Local merchants adapt to operating during lockdown

As the stay home, stay safe statewide mandate continues through at least Thursday, May 28, several local stores are offering shoppers curbside pickup options or the opportunity to “browse” via Facebook or other other social media platforms. In downtown Birmingham, Lori Karbal, My House of Style, Tender, Woolly & Co. and Found Objects are among the boutiques offering curbside pickup for shoppers who can choose from items either on their website, off social media sites, or by calling the store. At Gazelle Sports, purchases can be made online or by phone, and then delivered curbside. They are even offering virtual shoe fittings, with appointments made online on the Calendly app, and sessions with fit experts are conducted via Zoom, during which customers will answer questions about their movement goals, needs and concerns or issues, and demonstrate their walk/run gait and more. Bakehouse46 in Birmingham is reopening on Fridays through Sundays, online pre-orders, curbside pick-up and delivery through Grubhub. In addition, to support frontline workers, for every half-dozen donuts purchased, they will donate a half-dozen to area hospital staff along with a Blake's eight-ounce hand sanitizer. At SHE Bloomfield Township, owner Sharon Eisenshtadt has been offering virtual “She in the Dining Room” clothes shopping via Facebook and Instagram throughout the lockdown. For those not getting out, but needing to get their bodies moving, Equilibrium Pilates Studio in Bloomfield and Birmingham is offering 15 free 15-minute workouts over 15 days beginning Friday, May 15, with sign up on their Facebook page.