Geiger's Reopening Storefronts May 12

Geiger’s will reopen all three Cleveland-area storefronts Tuesday, with new policies at its Lakewood, Chagrin Falls and Downtown Cleveland locations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Employees will be required to wear masks, said co-owner Gordon Geiger, and will be screened for symptoms when they arrive for work. Free, disposable masks will also be available onsite for customers, he said, as well as hand sanitizer stations.

“It’s all about protecting them, protecting us, protecting our team as best we can,” Geiger said.

The store is also implementing space monitoring policies to encourage social distancing, including clear plastic panels at registers and limitations on the number of people around the check-out areas at one time, as well as in the store.

Masks, hand sanitizer, dividers at the registers and social distancing guidance on the floors are in place to help protect staff and customers as Geiger's in Lakewood prepares to reopen its doors May 12. [Gayle S. Putrich / ideastream]

Geiger’s will continue to offer free next-day delivery within Cuyahoga County, he said, and customers who don’t want to enter the store can also opt for curbside pickup. All stores will initially open with limited hours.

The outdoor apparel and sports shop has seen online orders nearly double while its brick-and-mortar stores have been closed, Geiger said, but the 88-year-old Lakewood-based company has still taken a financial hit from the virus.

“Like any business, we can’t do business as usual for eight weeks, eight to nine weeks,” Geiger said. “It’s been a strain, but we will weather it.”