not reopening

businesses make decision

Because certain businesses can re- open...doesn't mean they are.

One choosing to wait longer is lexington-based "shop local kentucky".

Abc 36's monica harkins talked to the store about the decision to stay closed.

Window shopping has taken on a whole new meaning during this pandemic.you can look, but you can't touch.

My wife and i built that store with our two bare hands.

Rick and joni paynter originally launched shop local kentucky online...only moving to a brick and mortar shop after customer request.

Now, four years later and it's back to being online only while doors are temporarily closed.

And paynter says they'll stay that way for a while even though the governor is allowing retail to reopen may 20th.

Reopening is no small feat -it's not like flipping a light switch on you know, paynter made the announcement on instagram...saying a reopening in august is more likely than may...but its two other locations in bowling green and covington...will stay closed at least until the end of the year.

I don't want to ever put profits over people.

First off, and then second off, public health is number one, if we're truly in this together, then we have to be in this together.

And that means some sacrifice.

But behind the closed sign you might see a set of hands still at work fulfilling online orders...and packing up a new item...face masks.

The most important thing that we could have done, i think, is honestly was like i said, normalizing it and making it not such an uncomfortable experience for people to wear masks.

In true shop local kentucky fashion, of course... leaning on levity.

We hope that we're not making masks in six months we hope that we're back to making t shirts and uk stuff and root on the cats and everything else.

When doors do finally reopen...at least one thing is certain...the kentucky wildcats will still be good at basketball.

In lexington monica harkins abc 36 news.

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