These Massachusetts Businesses, Retailers Are Starting To Reopen

MASSACHUSETTS — Golf courses aren't the only places given the green light to tee off after being closed for weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic. Gun shops, florists and others have also received welcome news this week, though to varying degrees and from different sources.

The state said Thursday golf courses were allowed to reopen effectively immediately, albeit with a lengthy list of restrictions such as limiting groups to no more than four and not allowing golf carts.

Also on Thursday, a federal judge temporarily lifted the closure on gun shops. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock issued a preliminary injunction that goes into effect at noon Saturday. Gov. Charlie Baker's administration will have until May 28 to decide if they want to fight the injunction — if not, the lawsuit will be dismissed. Woodlock said closing the gun shops while allowing businesses such as liquor stores to remain open was unconstitutional, according to Law360.

Florists have also been given major relief, though are not open in a traditional manner. Baker earlier this week allowed for nonessential businesses to have a small number of employees in-store to fulfill phone and online orders — a huge break for florists in particular ahead of Mother's Day.

Other retailers are benefitting from the new rules, which are a change from only the owner being allowed in the store. Places like book stores and car dealers are able to conduct business a bit more freely, provided they continue to limit in-person business with customers.

Baker has said May 18 remains a target for the opening of some other nonessential businesses, with limitations, though he hasn't indicated which businesses. For that to happen, the state will need to see health data move in a positive direction — something that ebbs and flows by the day day but overall is seeing downward trend.

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Reporting from State House News Service was used in this report