A sign outside Willie's allows for one family or household in the store at a time.
Jane Doe Boutique was open in Five Points Monday morning.
Taqueria Cinco was open for to-go orders today, but will reopen its patio tomorrow for a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Five Points Vintage urged customers to wear a mask when they come inside.
Parking spots were available in Five Points Monday morning as some shops and restaurants reopened their doors.
Construction of Southern Grounds' third location in Avondale continued.
The dining room at Brick was open, but tables were spread out to allow for social distancing.
Construction continued at Southern Grounds' future location in the Shoppes of Avondale.
Although crowds were light Monday morning in Five Points and the Shoppes of Avondale, some retailers and restaurants were open for business and others continued offering to-go orders.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s statewide plan to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions on retailers and restaurants launched May 4.
The plan allows restaurant dining areas and retail stores to reopen at 25% capacity, with other safety measures in place.
Hoptinger in Five Points reopened at 11 a.m. following a deep cleaning of the restaurant. Robert Tilka, vice president of strategy at ServStar Group, which operates the two Hoptinger’s Jacksonville locations, said the ground floor and rooftop would be open.
It also will reopen in Jacksonville Beach.
“We definitely want to get back open No. 1 for our employees to get back to work, and No. 2 for the community,” Tilka said.
Employees would need to wear gloves and masks, tables will be spaced out, and customers would be limited to 25% capacity.
Tilka said he expects the restaurant’s Five Points rooftop to quickly reach capacity.
“The rooftop is going to be a great place for people to get up there and maintain their social distancing but have a little bit more of an open feel,” Tilka said.
River & Post’s restaurant and rooftop will reopen May 5, said owner Jeff McCusker said. With about 300 seats in its ground-floor restaurant and 150 on the rooftop, McCusker said he hopes to attract “a decent crowd in there.”
The restaurant and rooftop can serve alcohol, but patrons can’t sit at the bar. Since River & Post sells more than 50% food, it can operate its rooftop bar with the same restrictions as the downstairs restaurant.
He’s already seeing reservations for Mother’s Day come in.
Overall, he wants to put employees back to work.
“We’re not opening up to try to make any money, we just want to break even so that our employees can come back and pay some bills,” McCusker said.
McCusker said staff would have their temperatures taken when they arrive and leave for the day, and the results will be recorded in a log. They also will be required to wear masks throughout the restaurant. Servers and kitchen staff will need to wear gloves, as well as those who roll silverware.
McCusker said he ordered 16 hand-sanitizing stations to install on the walls throughout the restaurant for employees and customers.
“We just want people to feel safe when they come in the restaurant,” he said.
In Avondale, Biscottis manager Lauren Bush said it would take more time for the restaurant to reopen its dining room.
“Having people in here for takeout, plus you have people in here trying to dine, it just seems a little too risky at this point,” she said.
While some retailers stayed closed, others had signs posted outside limiting customers inside the store. Willie’s, a children’s clothing store, was allowing one customer in at a time.
