TAKING PROPER PRECAUTIONS
Since the early days of COVID-19, there is one group that has been associated with it the most. People over the age of 60 have felt the effects of the disease at a much higher rate than any other age group.
That has stayed consistent no matter what region, state or country is battling the contagious virus.
That is why Holly Naberhaus is going to be extremely careful. The manager of Antiques by Helen knows when she reopens she has to not only change the way she does business, but also who can be part of it.
Naberhaus is especially concerned about her mother, Helen Jones, who is over 60 years of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, seniors, as well as those with underlying health problems, are at a higher risk of serious illness once exposed to the virus.
Because of that, when Antiques By Helen reopens, Jones will not be seen by the customers as much.
“I think that we will probably not have her here as much because we don’t want to expose her until this virus dies down,” Naberhaus said. “I probably won’t allow her to come to the shop, but she’ll probably come down here when we’re closed and different times to help with things around the shop. We may take precautions with wearing masks for the employees. We’re still working through that and just using social distancing.”
Antiques By Helen has been in business since 1979 and Jones has been the owner since day one. Before COVID-19 struck, she was an integral part of the company’s daily workings.
Before breaking her ankle last year, Ms. Jones would typically spend several days a week at the antiques store, said Naberhaus.
Projects listed below are commercial building permits for the year 2020, currently being reviewed since May 11:
304 SW Lee Blvd. On May 13, this site applied for a building permit. The retail property is under review for change of use to a grow and dispensary facility. The project is valued at $40,000.
TAKING PROPER PRECAUTIONS
Naberhaus knows keeping her mom away will not be easy. “It will be tough,” Naberhaus said. “But she knows that that’s in her best interest. Just trying to look out for her health.”
Even though other businesses in Lawton have begun to reopen, Antiques by Helen has not. According to Naberhaus, she wants to make sure they are set up to follow the new restrictions and guidelines that have been put in place. Which could take another week or more.
“I think we’re limited really to probably only about four people in our building right now because of the size. We’re about 2,000 square feet,” Naberhaus said. “So, if you had one person per 500 square feet, that would only allow us four people, which would include employees. I think the longer we wait until some of those restrictions are lifted, that would help because, again, that’s not very many people that can have in our space.”
Along with selling antiques out of their storefront, Antiques by Helen also runs a busy estate sale calendar throughout the year.
That has also been halted due to the spread of COVID-19. However, Naberhaus is even less sure when they will be able to restart that part of the business. Not
only because of the number of older patrons who frequent estate sales, but just the nature of the business, which can form large groups of people into a residential home.
Several people have called on Naberhaus concerning estate sales, said Naberhaus. Social distancing and other guidelines put in place to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus have affected the estate sale aspect of the business.
“So that’s probably been the area that’s been hit hardest. I know there are other companies in town who do estate sales as well. I understand that it’s important that we don’t. You would have large crowds of people, which would be unsafe. I understand that. It’s just that that’s a big part of our business.”
While the almost two-month shutdown and new guidelines have definitely impacted Antiques by Helen, Naberhaus said these are decisions that Lawton Mayor Stan Booker had to make.
“We’re very understanding,” she said. “We’re very grateful for what the mayor has done and how proactive he and the city council have been. It’s really important that we protect our citizens. We are very supportive of that. We’re just trying to make sure that we take the proper precautions.”