Coronavirus: Santa Clara County enters Phase 2, retail stores reopen for curbside pickup
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara County joins the rest of the Bay Area in Phase 2 of the state's plan to reopen some businesses. It will allow curbside pickup, manufacturing and logistics work to resume.
It also allows manufacturing and warehouses supporting retail to reopen, subject to social distancing and related requirements.
Local store owners say entering the Phase 2 reopening is like a beginning after being sheltered in place for two months- but it's a scary beginning because they're not sure what to expect.
Stores in downtown Willow Glen posted signs on their doors saying they will be opening on Friday for curbside.
Carole Demkowsky owns the Three Sisters, an antique shop off Lincoln Avenue.
She's had the store for 13 years.
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Her store is particularly small so she's glad transactions will be done outside- but she's not sure how she can fully reopen in the future.
"For me I'd have to do a lot to get the store ready to do inside because I am so small. I'm only 8 feet wide and probably 15 feet deep," Demkowsky said.
Earlier in the week, Doctor Sara Cody from Santa Clara County Health, said the number of new cases in the county is stable and has been decreasing, significantly.
RELATED: Santa Clara Co. finally joins the rest of the Bay Area in Phase 2 of reopening
This is good news for retailers:
"I miss my employees, I miss my clientele, I miss the Campbell community. It's all just been hard to put into words. It's really surreal," said Brooke Ramirez, Bombshell Boutique.
Museums, historical sites and public gardens can also reopen as long as visitors remain in outdoor areas.
"Most retails are anxious to get back. It's what we have to do to get ready for the public to make them feel safe- and will they come out? That's our big question. This is our test weekend I think," Demkowsky said.
She hopes she doesn't have to close in another month.
"We can't survive just doing curbside and I can't survive just doing a couple of days a week," Demkowsky said.
Stores within an indoor mall, like Westfield Valley Fair, won't be able to reopen for pickup. Freestanding stores or those at outdoor malls like Stanford Shopping Center or Santana Row will be allowed to open for pickup.
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