BUSINESS News:

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Wednesday that New Mexico’s emergency public health order, set to expire May 15, will be extended through May 31 and modified to allow most retailers to operate at 25 percent of their maximum occupancy as determined by fire code.

Other public health emergency changes include a requirement, beginning Saturday, that everyone wear face coverings in public, with exceptions for eating, drinking and exercising.

The changes are part of New Mexico’s phased plan for a safe and gradual reopening based on “gating criteria” that show a generally decreasing transmission rate, adequate testing, contact tracing and hospital capacity, and adequate supply of personal protective equipment.

In line with the state’s status relative to its gating criteria, the amended public health order will relax several restrictions on low-intensity contact services to relieve additional economic pressure.

WHAT REMAINS THE SAME:

New Mexicans must remain home except for outings essential for health, safety and welfare, especially elderly and vulnerable individuals. If you must leave home, gatherings of more than five people remain prohibited and 6 feet of physical distance from others must be maintained.

Large retailers like big-box stores and grocery stores will continue operating at 20 percent capacity as determined by fire code.

Locations and services where high-intensity contact is unavoidable – such as gyms, salons and dine-in service at restaurants and bars – will remain temporarily closed. Limited in-person operations for those types of businesses could be included in the next modification of the public health order, as soon as early June, depending on New Mexico’s rate of COVID-19 transmission, testing capacity and other gating criteria.

Other high-intensity contact services that must remain closed include:

• Indoor malls, massage and tattoo parlors, theaters and casinos;
• A 14-day quarantine order remains in place for out-of-state airport arrivals;
• Vacation rentals prohibited to out-of-state residents; and
• Visits to long-term care and other congregate care facilities remain restricted.

WHAT WILL CHANGE BEGINNING SATURDAY:

• All retailers may operate according to COVID-Safe Practices (“CSPs”) at 25 percent fire code occupancy (a “retailer” is any business that sells goods directly to the ultimate consumer or end-users and does not include wholesalers or suppliers, not does it include entertainment venues such as movie theaters, concert halls, or amusement parks);
• Non-essential businesses (other than retailers; such as office spaces, call centers) generally may operate according to CSPs at up to 25 percent of pre-crisis staffing levels. All employees should continue to work from home wherever possible;
• Houses of worship may operate at 10 percent occupancy;
• Additional state parks and certain outdoor recreation guides with COVID-Safe Practices; and
• Masks will be required of everyone in public places, with exceptions for eating, drinking and exercising and medical requirements.

COVID-safe practices for businesses in New Mexico are available online here and will be updated later this week with individualized practices for specific industries, as well as houses of worship. Important practices retail and other establishments must enact include frequent cleaning and sanitizing of high-touch surfaces; signage to communicate occupancy limits; adherence to maximum occupancy limits per the state emergency public health order; and establishing protocols to allow for contact-less pickup and home delivery wherever possible, among others.

BUSINESSES REOPENING IN LOS ALAMOS SATURDAY:

CB FOX: The liquidation sale resumes at 75 percent off when the store reopens at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16. Store hours will be reduced to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. Maximum capacity is 30 people at a time permitted inside the store. Face masks will be required and social distancing observed for all employees and customers. Lots of inventory is still available, especially Los Alamos t-shirts! Display and store equipment also is on sale.

SEEKING CHAMELEON: Seeking Chameleon will be open at 25% tomorrow Saturday. We will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. . Hours for being open during the week will be announced at a later time. The folks at Seeking Chameleon say, come by and say hi and shop! Located at 35 Rover Blvd. in White Rock. Call 505. 412.0933 for more information

PETREE GARDEN CENTER AND FLORIST: Employee Katie Jones reports that outside courtyard shopping will continue and now limited indoor shopping has been added. Indoor shoppers will be limited in number and are asked to wear masks. Employees are wearing masks as well. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Mondays. They are located at 2470 East Road. Call 505.257.6030 for more information.

FINISHING TOUCH: Owner Julio Gaytan reported that although they have been open regular hours, they are taking a lot of precautions. These include employee masking and limiting the number of people in the store at one time. Finishing touch is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. They are located at 170 Central Park Square. Call 505.662.3388 for more information

VILLAGE ARTS: Owner Ken Nebel said that Village Arts will open for in-store shopping Saturday. He suggests making an appointment to avoid waiting for other shoppers to leave the store, but people who don’t call in advance will no9t be turned away. Village Arts continues to provide pick-up and delivery service. Village arts is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday at 216 DP Road. Call 505.661.2526 for more information.

UPEX: UPEX is an essential business. It continues to be open normal hours, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 .m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 108 Central Park Square. Call 505.662.3119 for more information.

FULLER LODGE ART CENTER: The Art Center Shop and the gallery will remain closed until approximately May 30 as they are regulated by Los Alamos County. Director Ken Nebel promised to keep the public informed of the re-opening date and schedule.

ASPEN COPIES: While Aspen Copies, 1907 Central Ave., never closed when the Governor delivered her original public health order because it was deemed an essential business, Co-owner Dawn Cline told the Los Alamos Daily Post that they welcome the new modified public health order.

“I really hope that it brings everybody back because we’re here for the community and the contractors,” she said. “Now that they are coming back, we can come back.”

Cline added that Aspen Copies can help other businesses reopen and comply with the state’s COVID-Safe Practices. She explained Aspen Copies is able to print signs and manuals to educate people on hand washing, wearing masks and social distancing.

“We’re here to get everybody else open, too,” she said.

Aspen Copies also is taking measures to comply with the new health order. Cline said all the employees wear masks and tape was put on the floor to mark six feet distancing. Additionally, she said an oversize laminate sheet was installed at the registers to serve as a “sneeze guard” and plastic partitions were installed, too. Cline said if more than three customers come to the store at a time people have been very respectful and waited outside till someone leaves the store.

Aspen Copies is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 505.661.3008 for more information.

FILM FESTIVAL: Film Festival, 3801 Arkansas Ave. #D, has also remained opened since the original public health order was issued but, it is offering additional items for sale in response to the pandemic. In addition to movie rentals, the laundry mat and coffee bar, Employee Trevor Kennard said Film Festival offers hand sanitizer refills and gallon jugs of milk. To adhere to the new requirements to stop the spread of COVID-19, he said all employees wear masks and hand sanitizer is available for everyone in the store. Kennard added employees wear gloves when working at the coffee bar. Film Festival is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 505.662.3688.

NAMBE DRUGS: Nambe Drugs, 111 Central Park Square, has always been opened for business but Owner Tom Lovett said the pharmacy is now offering free home delivery in Los Alamos and White Rock as well as curbside delivery. Nambe Drugs is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 505.661.9560.

PET PANGAEA: When the Governor issued her public health order, Pet Pangaea, 158 Central Park Square, was already on the ball in the effort to curb COVID-19 cases.

Owner Cyndi Wells said starting in late February employees have cleaned the pet store every hour, offered curbside pickup, utilized Facetime and WhatsApp to communicate with customers, and limited the number of people in the store at any one time.

Now, Pet Pangaea is being even more proactive. Wells said there is directional signage to designate one entrance, one exit and one-way aisles. Additionally, pet store employees complete a health screening on a Google form before they go to work. She added previously shoppers were encouraged to wear face masks, but it is now required that they wear a mask.

Additionally, Wells said Pet Pangaea will offer online shopping as well as home delivery services beginning this week. Customers can shop on its website, https:////www.petpangaea.com/. Home delivery will be free for purchases of more than $50 and there will be a $5 charge for everything else.

Wells also started a new virtual meetup for pet owners since the Downtown Dogs walks are cancelled. The meetup, which occurs on Zoom, is called Pina Coladas and Pets.  The meetup is held 6 p.m. Saturdays. Wells said it is chance for pet owners to socialize and see each other’s pets. To join the virtual meetup, visit Pet Pangaea’s Facebook page .

With the Governor implementing a modified health order, Wells said she is “guardedly optimistic” that retail businesses will see positive changes.

“It’s been hard to not see all our friends … but we are looking forward to whatever our new normal will be,” she said.

Pet Pangaea is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 505.661.1010.

CRICKET WINDOW:  After running its business solely online, The Cricket Window, 1247 Central Ave., Suite 213, aims to reopen 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Owner Rachel Hensen said.

“We understand that people have different comfort levels so in addition to our physical store being open we will continue allowing people to place orders on our online Etsy store and we will continue offering free home delivery to Los Alamos and White Rock,” Hensen said. “People are very happy with our online store option so we will continue offering online shopping indefinitely. Once we open our doors Saturday, we will comply with all state orders that apply to our type of business.”

She explained a sign will be posted at the door that states: “Per state public health order, masks required”. Additionally, Hensen said the 25 percent capacity rule per the Governors health order will be enforced. She said there is a small waiting area right outside the door that people may use if the store has reached 25 percent capacity.

Hensen added that the store is in the process of acquiring PPE and hand sanitizer for customers.

“I have mixed feelings about the Governor allowing more businesses to re-open but overall I am feeling hopeful and grateful as these are the baby steps we must take to return to normalcy or at least some new version of normalcy,” she said.

Cricket Window’s new hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit its Facebook page  or its Esty store.

Editor’s note: Any local businesses also planning to reopen Saturday – just send us your information and we will publish it for you! (caclark@ladailypost.com)