Plush Salon & Spa May 14, 2020 (photo courtesy Ross Lavinge)

By Chantal Wagner

open for business

Hatters & businesses embrace the province’s phase one reopening

May 14, 2020 | 4:56 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – “I feel confident that it is the right time to move into stage one. That being said, stage one allows businesses to open at the discretion of owners and operators.”

That’s what Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced on May 13 during the province’s phase one relaunch announcement on Wednesday afternoon.

The relaunch has haircuts, a meal out, and shopping all looking different with public health guidelines in place.

But they’re the little things we’ve been waiting to do again.

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And residents were excited to take on the first day of the province’s relaunch on Thursday, May 14.

Kelsey Solberg was in for a cut and colour today at her salon, “I got the first appointment. It feels different here but I’m super happy to be able to come back. “I can tell safety is first priority and it’s totally under control in here so I feel comfortable with it.”

While Tara Vearncombe was out for a meal at a local restaurant, “I’m excited to get out and feel somewhat normal again.”

The phones at the local salon were ringing off the hook after two months of being closed.

Owner of Plush Salon and Spa Jenna Engel says customers and stylists are wearing masks, spacing out work stations, and not offering walk-ins.

“It’s been amazing but scary and nerve-wracking all at the same time because we’re all in this together and nobody knows what’s about to happen we’re basically just trying to take it a day at a time at this point,” Engel said.

She says it’s mandatory for her staff and clients to wear masks, “For the Alberta guidelines they say that if you want to do any blow drying at all every single person in the salon has to be wearing a mask so everybody will be wearing a mask.”

Residents have also been excited for a meal out and morning coffee says IHOP’s general manager Randall Nobel. “We’ve had about 10-12 tables so far. We had a coupleof tables waiting for us to even open our doors this morning so that was nice. So I’m glad to see that.”

IHOP has been excited to open. Their measures include distancing tables, operating at 50 percent capacity, direction arrows on the floor, wearing masks, and no condiments on tables.

On the retail side, they are disinfecting change rooms after each use and taking clothing off the shelf for up to 48 hours if they’ve been tried on.

Owner of Annie McGuire Interiors Allison Dreher says she’s hearing mixed feelings from customers about the reopening.

“Some people are let’s make an appointment, we’ve got a waiting list for appointments and people are really eager to come and see us. On the other side, people are still very nervous. They want to be careful, they feel like it’s too soon to be opening,” Dreher said.

Right now, their shop is booking appointments to shop privately and they’re still offering curbside, delivery, and virtual shopping over FaceTime

And with the May long weekend ahead, businesses are hoping they’ll see more foot traffic come through their doors.

Nobel says, “With the nice weather ahead here this weekend I’m expecting it to be pretty busy. Unfortunately no camping yet so we do have our patio set up as well and it’s also following the social distance guidelines.”