‘Health over wealth.’ More Bradenton businesses requiring masks because of COVID-19
On the same day that Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order allowing retail stores and restaurant dining rooms to begin partially reopening, Costco Wholesale took a bold step.
All Costco members and guests would be required to wear a face mask while at Costco as protection against COVID-19, Craig Jelink, president and CEO, announced.
That’s been the Costco rule since May 4.
“Costco employees are required to wear face coverings, and now we are asking that Costco members do so, too. We know some members may find this inconvenient or objectionable, but under the circumstances we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience. This is not simply a matter of personal choice; a face covering protects not just the wearer, but others too,” Jelink said in his posting.
As it turned out, COVID-19 rebounded to record levels in Manatee County and most of Florida in June, leading more businesses to rethink their policy on masks.
Among the Bradenton area businesses now requiring guests to wear a mask when entering their premises is the Chiles Group of restaurants: The Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria; Beach House Waterfront Restaurant, 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach; and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, 760 Broadway St., North Longboat Key.
“We made that decision late last week,” company founder Ed Chiles said.
Earlier, elected officials in the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach had voted to require the wearing of face masks inside buildings.
“Any customer who comes inside any of our three restaurants must wear a mask,” Chiles said.
That includes customers entering to pick up an order or use a restroom.
Even though the governor’s executive order allowed restaurant dining rooms to begin reopening on May 4, Chiles elected to keep his closed and serves food only in outdoor seating areas.
“We have the luxury of having outdoor seating. We are not serving inside. It makes our staff people feel better, and it makes our management team and customers feel better, too,” Chiles said.
As an additional health and safety measure, infrared sanitizing systems, are being installed in all of The Chiles Group restaurants, he said.
“We are fortunate to be where we are. People want to come to Anna Maria Island. Our sales are pretty strong,” Chiles said.
Health care officials are unanimous in recommending wearing a mask as a way to minimize spreading of COVID-19. A mask is considered the single most effective of way of stopping the virus which can be spread through talking, sneezing or coughing.
The pandemic is unlike anything that Steve Traves has experienced in eight years of owning and operating AMI Outfitters Coastal Gear & Apparel at 401 Pine Ave., Anna Maria.
As a result, he opens his store only by appointment. Customers who enter must wear a mask.
“We are concerned about our health and our customer’s health,” Traves said of the decision to require wearing a mask. “It is a simple thing to do. It is all about our community. It is putting health over wealth. The sooner everyone buckles down, the sooner we will get through this.”
When customers call to make an appointment, Traves tries to learn what kind of recreational outdoor clothing or equipment the customer is looking for — anything from stand-up paddle boards to kayaks, fishing gear, and clothing — so that he can have it ready for them and minimize their time in the store.
Customers can also shop AMI Outfitters offerings online anytime at http://www.amioutfitters.com/.
“We are taking a big hit financially. We felt it was the right thing to do,” Traves said of limiting exposure and time in his store.
The owners of the Rusty Crickett boutique and gift shop in downtown Bradenton were so concerned by the health threat that they closed their store in downtown Bradenton earlier this month.
They plan to reopen in July at 2300 Whitfield Park Drive, using a new business model, emphasizing the private shopping experience.
“We took a step back and looked at what our customers looked like and decided to do something proactively before we were forced to do it,” owner Jim Clapper said of the move earlier this month. “We hope to come back downtown when the cornavirus is over.”
At the new location, the owners say they will have more space for storage and a storefront location for customers who can visit by appointment. Similar to the approach AMI Outfitters is taking, customers will be able to browse online and then inspect the merchandise in person.
Barnes & Noble opened in mid-June at 200 N. Cattlemen Road in the University Town Center district. Shoppers were required to wear masks and social distance. The mask requirement did nothing to discourage a line of 100 shoppers from forming prior to the opening.
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 1:52 PM.
