THUNDER BAY — Dave Green's involuntary weight-loss program is about to end.
Just in time for outdoor projects, the Ontario government is allowing hardware stores to reopen their doors to customers as of Saturday, May 9.
Green, who owns both Maier Hardware locations in the city, says he and his staff have been getting a lot exercise running back and forth from the store to deliver and process purchases to customers at curbside over the last few weeks.
"It's going to be a relief. We've been running our tails off to carry merchandise out the door as fast as we can. The mileage is immense. I think I'm losing weight," Green said after hearing about the government's announcement Wednesday.
His son has been tracking 12 kilometres a day while working at the South Algoma Street location.
"That's a lot of running," Green said.
Business has been good despite the inconvenience customers might experience by not being able to browse inside the store.
In fact, Green believes he has picked up a lot of new patrons.
"We've been getting spinoff business from the box stores where they can't service customers the way we do because they're not built for that. They're self-serve," he said.
Trying to keep up with the crush, however, has been labour-intensive.
"Basically, there's a lot more time involved for the sales that we would normally do with the staff that we have," Green said.
Although he's looking forward to seeing customers back in the store, he's aware that COVID-19 remains a risk, and plans to have appropriate safeguards in place, including sanitizing contact points.
"We will probably keep them at the front of the store and not allow them past the cash register. We'll run within the store rather than having customers wander the aisles. That's our first thought," Green said.
He's also ordered reusable face masks for his staff, and will maintain social distancing for everyone who enters the building.
"We can only allow three customers in the store, maybe four, tops. That's what we did before when the rules allowed people in."
Maier Hardware's Simpson Street outlet was temporarily closed because its location is less suitable for curbside pickup.
Green hopes to reopen that store soon, but isn't sure if it can be arranged by Saturday.
The operators of another locally-owned hardware and building supply business, Home Hardware, say it will take them a little longer to readjust their systems for in-store traffic.
Co-owner Shannon Sauer said "We have a lot of things that need to happen first. Saturday is definitely not our day" to see customers inside.
Sauer said the business had to implement numerous changes to put the curbside service in place, "and now we need to 'unchange' that and figure out how we're going to accommodate curbside, phone-in, on-line and in-store service. It's very short notice."
In an interview Wednesday afternoon, she said the staff were so busy that she hadn't had a chance yet to discuss the situation with her managers.
"It's been insanely busy. We are working very, very hard," Sauer said, adding that she's recently had to hire additional staff to keep up with the demand.
Under the relaxed rules announced by the province, in-store payment and purchases will also be allowed at garden centres and nurseries as of Friday, May 8.
On Monday, May 11, retail stores with a street entrance can begin offering curbside pickup and delivery.
The government said all businesses must follow public health measures and should review the workplace safety guidelines.
