Without state mask mandates, Colorado small businesses make their own rules
DENVER — As vaccines are rolling out across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 guidelines.
Soon after, states and cities across the country made their own changes. On May 14, Governor Jared Polis announced that fully vaccinated Coloradans can ditch their masks in most indoor settings, unless the “setting or business requires otherwise,” leaving mask mandates up to individual businesses.
Rules can also differ by county and industry, which makes them even harder for small businesses to keep up with. According to Denver business owner Erika Righter, the changes in guidance can be hard to follow.
“I think there is an assumption that small business owners can track all of these constantly changing rules and regulations,” says Righter. “It’s been very challenging to navigate.”
Righter owns Hope Tank, a gift shop on South Broadway that is rooted in community. “Everything we sell connects to a different community organization,” explains Righter.
Other Colorado businesses are facing the same challenges as Righter, sometimes with controversy. On May 16, Stanley Marketplace announced it would not require masks indoors or outdoors in common areas, but that individual vendors at the food hall and market could require masks. Many people commented that the decision was rushed or confusing, while others celebrated the news.
“We know there’s no easy way to make everyone happy at this moment,” a Stanley Marketplace employee posted in the comments. “Please know we’ve had lots of conversations with health authorities about this decision.”
Several national chains, including Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, and Target, are no longer requiring fully vaccinated customers to wear masks inside their stores. See a full list of major retailers and their mask policies here.
Seen as a leader by other local small businesses, Righter wanted to make a stand on her store’s mask policy up front. She took to Instagram, where she made a short video explaining that customers would still have to wear masks to shop at Hope Tank. Knowing customers would have questions, she wanted to get out in front of it and let folks know right away that Hope Tank’s mask policy was staying put.
“The way I’ve approached this have been to be as conservative as possible,” says Righter, “to mitigate any kind of exposure, for myself, my staff, and customers.”
In the video, Righter explained that some of the Hope Tank staff have young children who are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine, so mask-wearing is an important safeguard to make sure the virus isn’t brought home to any kids. During a May 20 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy released data that showed hundreds of Coloradans 18 and younger have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in 2021 alone.
In addition to requiring face coverings, Hope Tank offers a hand sanitizing station as customers enter the shop, as well as free disposable masks and cloth masks for sale.
“To us, it’s not a political thing,” Righter says of masks. “It’s really about capacity and support and making sure people feel really comfortable being in here.”
Righter hopes their mask policy will only have to be enforced for another couple of months.
Alexis Kikoen is a multimedia journalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can contact her at alexiskikoen@rmpbs.org.