Retail shopping is totally different in the time of COVID, as different businesses need to comply by different sets of standards. Boutiques and shops have been able to be open for a little bit now, experimenting with their new signage and policies. Big-box stores in malls, however, aren’t faring as well for the walk-in experience, as Phase 4 just got scaled back to keep malls closed in the name of ventilation (unless the store has its own outdoor entrance, like Dicks or Best Buy at the Poughkeepsie Galleria).

The boutiques did outstanding jobs at quickly getting their inventory online and putting all of their efforts into posting at Instagram and arranging for porch drop-offs. Now that the doors can open and people can go inside, shopping is much easier. But new rules remain.

As you shop, you’ll find required hand sanitizer at the door of each store. You’ll need to sanitize each time, with no excuses of: “I just sanitized my hands at the last store I was at next door!” While this thought did enter our minds too, as we visited 4 stores in 1 hour, it didn’t matter. Who wants to hassle a store owner when you have the privilege of walking into the shopping experience they set up for you.

Masks are asked for in every store, and Governor Cuomo did grant the store the right to deny you access. So mask up! Several stores on Main Street even sell the cutest masks for men and women, so you have no excuse if you forgot yours at home. Just buy a new one and help a maker! Check out A Little Beacon Blog’s Face Mask Gift Guide, but here are some hints: you’ll find face covers in Hyperbole, Blackbird Attic, Beacon Natural, La Mere, Zakka Joy, and a few other stores.

Shop ‘n Go. The social element to shopping is there, but stores have severely limited capacity. As stated in the sidewalk sign of Blackbird Attic, only 12 people are allowed in a store at one time. Be mindful by looking around, purchasing, and leaving. Do others a favor and touch as infrequently as possible. Some shops have appointment scheduling if you want guarenteed browsing time. Like Binnacle Books. You can book a time on their website, and go. But, if you’re walking by, do drop in! If no other customers are there, or if they haven’t hit their reduced capacity number, you can probably stay. And they want you to stay!

Guest Books. These are new COVID trackers. Stores are encouraged by New York State to put out a guest list for you to sign and date that you were there, for COVID tracking reasons, but filling it in is voluntary.

One of the main goals of these restrictions is to increase social distancing, and to increase ventilation inside of a store. If it gets too crowded, and if the air is getting thick, kindly step outside and wait for a different time.

LOCALS TIP: Do your boutique shopping during the week. You know it gets crowded on the weekends! Let the visitors do their thing, and enjoy your shops Monday-Thursday.