Wednesday Was All Quiet on the Retail Front

Some people chose to wear masks and some people chose not to wear masks while shopping in Old Pasadena, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Old Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

A person checks to see if The Container Store is open in Old Pasadena, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Old Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Most businesses are still closed in Old Pasadena, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Old Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

The Apple Store is closed on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Old Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

An employee at the Romantix Adult store posts the requirements about entering, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Old Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Most business are closed in Old Pasadena and much of the streets are empty, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Old Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Ross Dress for Less department store still remains closed, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in Old Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Macy's on South Lake Avenue still remains closed, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

The Coffee Bean on South Lake Avenue is open after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Macy's on South Lake Avenue and businesses around it's location are still closed, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

Most businesses on South Lake Avenue are closed, on the first day California allows in-store retail shopping, after all businesses have been closed for nearly two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. (Photo by James Carbone)

On the first day that Pasadena officially allowed in-store retail shopping to resume, the City’s two main shopping districts remained relatively quiet. Few shops were open in Old Pasadena, while the majority of retail stores on Lake Avenue, including Macy’s and Ross Dress For Less, remained shut tight.

The reopening of retail stores to walk-in customers means that Pasadena is now in line with L.A. County in allowing stores to reopen their doors to customers with proper face coverings and social distancing. At the same time, the County is now in step with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s move to Phase 3 of reopening stores statewide, with guidelines in place.

“Things are moving so quickly (at the State and County levels), that stores might not have had time to adhere to the new guidelines,” said Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian.

A random survey of shops found few of them open, although Mignon Chocolates, on Holly Street, was open, and has been since last week.

“We are open a few hours a day, Tuesdays through Saturday,” said employee Sandra Awakian from behind a counter filled with colorful chocolates of all types.

“It’s been slow, but it’s picking up,” she said. “We’re just going with the flow.”

According to one shopper who visited, Vroman’s Bookstore is still only doing curbside service.

Shopper Jeffrey Ramos, perusing Lake Avenue, was unable to find an open shop to visit with his friends, settling for juice drinks at Nektar, next door to the shuttered Macy’s.

“Things are subtle,” said Ramos. “But they’ll have to be that way for a while in order for us all to get through this.

Meanwhile, locals may have to travel to Orange County to visit a hair salon. Only counties which qualify under certain state guidelines have been allowed to reopen those shops. As yet, L.A. County has not yet qualified.