As Nassau County’s Phase 2 begins, Baldwin barbershops, retail stores reopen

Grand Palace Barber Shop employee Mark Davydov said last Friday that the first three days since the shop had reopened were very busy.

The barbershop, at Grand Avenue and Merrick Road in Baldwin, was among the many shops and hair salons that began operating again on June 10, as per Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order allowing certain businesses to open as part of the second phase of restarting Long Island’s economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Back to business now,” Davydov said. “When we opened, we were very busy. Wednesday — the first day — we did appointments, and it was really busy and crazy, and the next day, too.”

James, a Baldwin resident who declined to give his last name, was eager to have his shaggy hair cut professionally for the first time in months.

“As much as I want my hair cut, I’ve been waiting until it’s an appropriate time,” he said. And while he wasn’t nervous about going out in public, he said, his wife was skeptical. James said he planned to disinfect, remove what he was wearing and shower when he got home.

His wife tried cutting his hair about halfway through their self-isolation period, and he said, “it wasn’t great.” He also said he worried about local businesses like the Grand Palace that had to close for such a long time.

“We’re all doing our best,” he said, explaining that he is often around older family members who are at higher risk of dying if they contract Covid-19.

“It is serious, and we are concerned,” James said, “but things have to get back to normal eventually.”

Barbershop employees said that most of the patrons coming in have to make appointments ahead of time. The barbers wore masks and regularly disinfected surfaces, and one of the four chairs in the shop had been removed to allow for proper social distancing.

Grand Palace closed in March, Davydov said, about a week before a state order mandated nonessential businesses shut their doors.

“Because it was a scary kind of thing,” he said. “It was all over the news, so we decided to close a week earlier.”

Baldwin resident Joe Nocera accompanied his son, Caden, to Grand Palace for a haircut last Friday. For the past three months, Nocera has tried his best to trim Caden’s hair, but “it was a nightmare,” he laughed, “so it’s great to get him out and back into routine.”

All Star Cuts, on Merrick Road in Baldwin, also reopened on June 10.

“Happy to be home,” said Joshua Le as he gave a patron a haircut. The shop closed in the middle of March. Now employees are limiting the number of people coming in, taking patrons by appointment, disinfecting surfaces and maintaining social distancing.

“It’s still slow and everything, but people are coming out slowly,” Le said, adding that it seems like people are being wary and cautious. “I think people are still scared to come out and so forth, you know? Otherwise, it’s good to be home.”

Glory Beezzz Thrift Shop, on Merrick Road in Baldwin, also opened last week after closing in mid-March. The store has been around for 10 years.

“We couldn’t believe it,” owner Deidre Stammers said. “The first day was the best day I think we’ve ever had here.”

Her inventory was at maximum capacity, similar to other thrift shops, she said, because so many people have been cleaning out their homes and donating items to Goodwill, the Salvation Army and similar organizations.

“I was really overwhelmed just by seeing everyone,” Stammers said of her patrons. “I was just concentrating on the work aspect of it . . . and then just seeing everybody made it all worth it. I’ve just been so encouraged because people are just thrilled to be out.”

Many of her customers said they were happy to take part in “retail therapy” again, and one suggested that Stammers rename her store the “House of Hidden Treasures and Good Vibes.”