NEW: Essential Versus Non-Essential Retailers for Closure - RI Commerce Secretary Pryor Outlines

NEW: Essential Versus Non-Essential Retailers for Closure - RI Commerce Secretary Pryor Outlines

In an interview with GoLocal, Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Stefan Pryor outlined which businesses need close in an expanded effort to control the coronavirus in Rhode Island.

Governor Gina Raimondo, using her executive powers, issued an executive order that non-essential retailers are to immediately close.

Open? Businesses including grocery stores, liquor stores, and banks. 

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Closed? Book stores, furniture retailers, and more.

SEE LIST BELOW

Rhode Island recorded two deaths as a result of the coronavirus. The Department of Health made the announcement on Saturday.

Pryor said that the following businesses are broken into two categories -- essential and non-essential -- in accordance with Raimondo's executive order.

The Department of Business Regulation is providing the following list of critical and non-critical retail businesses.

For questions on these guidelines, please submit your questions online to the Department of Business Regulation using the web form available at https://dbr.ri.gov/critical/.

You may also call the Department of Business Regulation at 401-889-5550.

Critical retail businesses include: -  (ESSENTIAL)

Food and beverage stores (e.g. supermarkets; liquor, specialty food, bodega and convenience stores; farmers’ markets; food banks and pantries) - Pharmacies and medical supply stores, compassion centers - Pet supply stores - Printing shops, mail and delivery stores and operations, office supply - Gas stations - Laundromats - Electronics and telecommunications stores - Industrial, construction, agricultural/seafood equipment and supply stores, hardware stores, general power equipment - Funeral homes - Auto repair and supply - Banks and credit unions - Firearms stores - Healthcare and public safety professional uniform stores.

 

And other stores and businesses identified as critical by the Department of Business Regulation. Non-critical retail businesses include: (NON-ESSENTIAL)

Arts & crafts stores - Florists - Furniture stores (by appointment only) - Car and other motor vehicle dealerships (except for auto repair and by appointment only) - Music stores - Billiard stores - Sporting goods stores - Home furnishings stores - Lawn/garden supply stores (note that agricultural/seafood supply would be allowed to be open) - Book stores - Departments stores - Gift stores - Beauty supply stores - Second-hand/consignment stores - Shoe stores - Clothing stores - Jewelry stores Additional guidance: - Restaurants and bars may continue to operate only for pickup, drive-through, and delivery as per the Governor’s Executive Order 20-04. - All critical retail employers are required to implement social distancing and to work from home to the extent possible. - Financial services offered by pawn shops and payday lenders would be allowed to continue. In-person retail at pawn shops would be considered non-critical and closed. - For stores that are mixed retail and service, general retail with customers coming in and out of your store is not permitted. - For non-critical retail stores, although in-person retail sales are not allowed, retailers may continue to receive and ship orders made by phone or online.