Ozaukee County businesses open day after Supreme Court strikes down Safer at Home order

THIENSVILLE — The day after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the statewide Safer at Home order, businesses in Thiensville were already opening their doors to customers.

Salons and clothing stores alike saw people wander into their shops early in the day as businesses that have been closed for weeks started to slowly reopen.

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"They are going to be here with the gloves. They’re going to be here with the masks. They are going to be taking all the safety precautions, and I think it's safer than going into a store where not everyone is going to be using the same kind of precautions," Rob Lindner, who got his first hair cut in weeks at the Ladies and Gentlemen's Quarters in Thiensville, said.

He had an appointment at the salon not even one hour after it opened.

"The fact that I knew I was going to be the only person here today. I felt confident in that the one-on-one exposure, you know, would be safe," salon owner, Dawn Bantz said.

Not everyone is going to feel comfortable immediately coming into get their haircut, Bantz said. However, she is doing everything she can to keep her store clean.

"Making sure that when we are booking, that if we are having multiple clients in the salon, that maybe they are of the same family," she said.

Plus all surfaces, clippers, scissors, towels, and aprons will be thoroughly washed after every use.

"We probably won’t be able to work at the pace that we were before due to the fact that we have to do sanitation between our clients," Bantz said.

That's okay with her because she is at least getting some customers in her door now.

"It was a huge financial hit for us, yes. I still have not received a stimulus check. I did not get unemployment."

Across the street Fifth-Main had customers coming in and out of the buy-sell-trade clothing store all afternoon.

"What we have done is made sure we are allowing no more than 5 customers into our space at a time to shop. We are also enforcing the face mask, and asking that everybody does wear a face mask because we do believe that not only protects the customers, our staff, but also the community," owner Mikelle Flanner said.

As soon as the court struck down the decision, Flanner knew she would be opening her store the next day.

"I think what we just have to do right now is trust our elected officials and follow what they tell us is allowed," she said.

Along with the face mask requirement and occupancy limits, she is also immediately steam cleaning every garment that is tried on and not bought. Plus the store has implemented a shopping appointment policy to keep people from waiting outside; however, walk-ins are still accepted.

Restaurants are getting in on the action too. Remmington's River Inn will be serving dine-in guests but at half capacity.

It's all part of a slow re-open for many stores that haven't seen in-person customers for weeks.

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