Small businesses overcome hurdles to reopen with curbside pickup

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. — Some small businesses are taking extra time to prepare before opening for curbside sales and pickup after Massachusetts initially allowed them to do so Monday.

The Hall of Comics, a comic book shop in Southborough that Boston 25 News reported on at the start of the COVID-19-related shutdown, reopens its physical presence on Route 9 Wednesday.

“We want to make sure that we have the safest practices in place for us and the customers,” said co-owner Jake Johnston. “[Also,] Wednesday is the day when new books come out, so we thought that would be the best day to do a big almost re-reopening.”

Like many small businesses, Johnston said his shop has spent time developing new protocols for sales at the store’s front door, as well as delivery to a customer’s car if they call ahead. Looking ahead to the next phase, when customers are allowed back inside, Johnston and his partners also redesigned the floor plan to get rid of small aisles and facilitate social distancing while browsing.

An unforeseen plot twist also arose during the shutdown, Johnston said: major comic book publishers like DC and Marvel stopped printing books for weeks. Initially, Johnston told Boston 25 News in late March that the store had politely declined loyal customers’ well-intended requests to purchase gift cards during the lean times so that the shop could focus on selling tangible products online. With the publishing pause, Johnston said he and his partners needed to pivot again, turning their focus to selling existing stock and back issues on the website to get by.

“As a small business, I think one of our biggest takeaways was seeing the support come out from our fan community; that they do recognize the hard work it takes to run a small business [and] that they didn’t forget about us,” Johnston said. “Just because new comic books went away for two months, they didn’t forget about us. We got calls and emails asking for to buy things, books sent to them through the mail, make purchases online. So, that kind of support and enthusiasm from the people who want to support a small business. That was probably the biggest takeaway.”

Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts

>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here

RESOURCES:

- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information

- Boston Coronavirus Information

- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW

- Download our free apps for your phone and smart TV