Volusia County business owners speak out about mask changes



Volusia County business owners speak out about mask changes



SAY THEY WANT CUSTOMERS TO KEEP MASKS ON, FOR NOW. FOR RESTAURANTS, IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU GO. THE RETAIL WORLD IS STILL UNPACKING THE CDC’S CHANGE IN MASK POLICY. SOME LARGER BUSINESSES WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE THOSE MASKS INDOORS. WESH 2’S CLAIRE METZ WAS IN DOWNTOWN DELAND, WHERE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THERE HAVE DIFFERENT TAKES ON IT. CLAIRE: THE NEW CDC GUIDANCE HINGES ON THE HONOR SYSTEM, PRESUMES THOSE WHO ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS, BUT NOT EVERY BUSINESS OWNER IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. >> WE DEFINITELY STILL WANT YOU TO WEAR MASKS. CLAIRE: DEREK RIDGWAY OWNS SIDECAR MARKET AND BAR WITH HIS WIFE, WHO HE SAYS IS IMMUNE-COMPROMISED. RIDGWAY ASKS CUSTOMERS TO WEAR MASKS, OFFERS THEM A MASK IF THEY DON’T HAVE ONE AND HAS NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO CHANGE THAT POLICY, PROMOTING HIS BUSINESS AS A SAFE PLACE. >> THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN THAT ARE INCREDIBLY HAPPY THAT THERE’S SOMEPLACE THEY CAN COME AND SIT AND HANG OUT THAT STILL ENCOUAGES MASK USE. >> I DO IT FOR RESPECT FOR SOME PEOPLE. CLAIRE: AT NEARBY CHAMPS SHOE SERVICE, OWNER ARLES LOPEZ WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK EVEN THOUGH HE’S FULLY VACCINATED, BUT WILL WELCOME THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO WEAR ONE. HIS SIGN ASKING CUSTOMERS TO WEAR MASKS REMAINS UP, BUT LIKELY NOT FOR MUCH LONGER. >> I’M THINKING TO MOVE THE SIGN SOON. CLAIRE: YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN? >> YES, I WANT TO TAKE DOWN THE SIGN, YES. CLAIRE: TRACEY WORD WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK IN HER PRETTY LITTLE THINGS STORE AND SHE’S HOPING CUSTOMERS WILL DO SO AS WELL, FOLLOWING HER LEAD, BUT SHE WON’T TURN ANYONE AWAY WHO DOESN’T HAVE A MASK. SEVERAL WALKED IN AS WE WERE THERE, SANS MASKS. WORD SAYS SHE CAN’T BE THE PANDEMIC POLICE. >> I’M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE CONFRONTATION OF ASKING PEOPLE TO PUT ON A MASK AND IT’S NOT MY BUSINESS IF THEY’VE BEEN VACCINATED OR NOT AT THIS POIN CLAIRE: UNLESS PEOPLE OFFER THE INFORMATION, BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY COULD NEVER BE SURE ANYWAY. EVEN IF THERE PARENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED, A LOT OF YOUNG CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO THE VACCINE WOULD PRESUMABLY STILL HAVE TO WEAR MASKS. STILL A LOT OF UNKNOWNS WITH THIS NEW GUIDANCE. IN DELAND, VOLUSIA COUNTY, CLAIRE METZ, WESH 2 NEWS. STEW



Volusia County business owners speak out about mask changes



WESH 2 News spoke to small business owners in DeLand about the new CDC mask guidance.At several businesses in the downtown area, signs requiring masks are still on store windows. Several owners told WESH 2 News that although they will continue to wear masks, they won’t be the mask or vaccine police, and will be allowing people to shop with them.However, Derek Ridgeway, owner of Sidecar Market and Bar, will continue to require masks. His wife has a compromised immune system. Business owners say it will be difficult to tell who is vaccinated and who is not unless customers offer up the information.

WESH 2 News spoke to small business owners in DeLand about the new CDC mask guidance.

At several businesses in the downtown area, signs requiring masks are still on store windows.

Several owners told WESH 2 News that although they will continue to wear masks, they won’t be the mask or vaccine police, and will be allowing people to shop with them.

However, Derek Ridgeway, owner of Sidecar Market and Bar, will continue to require masks. His wife has a compromised immune system. Business owners say it will be difficult to tell who is vaccinated and who is not unless customers offer up the information.