Hartlepool shoppers' first taste of the new normal as non-essential shops reopen
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Many non-essential shops welcomed customers back for the first time in almost three months at Middleton Grange shopping centre, in the town centre and retail parks.
Several had staff or doormen letting people in one at a time, while socially distanced queues, hand sanitiser stations, floor markers and staff wearing visors was a common sight.
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Hide AdAround 20 stores and businesses opened in Middleton Grange including Primark, JD Sports, River Island, H&M and CEX.
The biggest queue was for Sports Direct where a Police Community Support Officer was on duty nearby to keep an eye on things.
Claire Bentham, 40, who bought some new shoes and pyjamas at Primark with her daughter Sophie, 20, said they only had a short wait.
Claire said: “I just wanted to get out and have a bit of normality, if you can class it as normal.”
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Hide AdMiddleton Grange has introduced a ‘one way' system in the centre and is rigorously cleaning to help visitors stay safe.
The Simple Weigh zero-waste food store, in Villiers Street, run by Lesley and Bryn Mulchay welcomed customers inside after putting in a counter screen, floor markers and providing gloves.
But they have had to stop their self-service for the moment to avoid any risk of cross-contamination.
Reef Menswear in York Road also reopened after surviving online during lockdown.
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Hide AdOwner Karl Fraser said: “Takings are down because the shop's not been open. We’re open now for anyone who wants to come out and have a look round before they buy.”
Customers can currently not try clothes on and Reef will put any returned items in quarantine for three days. Its suiting department is also by appointment only.
But it was the first day at all for Daniel Schofield of Nano Geek collectables in Avenue Road which had been due to open just as the pandemic happened.
Daniel, 29, said: “I know it’s going to be slow to start with because people are going to be worried about leaving their house, but with the distancing I’ve got in place I’m quite confident it will do well.”
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Hide AdAt Anchor Retail Park people queued to get in Next and TX Maxx. Argos is open again but only to collect goods bought online, while Currys PC World was still closed on Monday.
Sean Phillips, 64, of the marina who was in the queue for Next, which is limiting customers to 21 at a time, said: “I’ve just come down to see how it's going to work.
“I think the two metres needs to go down to one metre. I feel quite safe.”
Vaping retailer VPZ in York Road, Hartlepool, was one of the chain’s first branches in the country to reopen after almost 12 weeks.
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Hide AdNew measures include all tester and sampling devices being removed, the introduction of a customer limit and mark queuing lanes outside.
VPZ director Doug Mutter said: “The Hartlepool staff have been amazing, and it is through their hard work that we can open safely.”