Back toward normal

Things aren't completely back to normal in eastern New Mexico, but the second phase of statewide reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic has people breathing a little easier - even as many wear a mask.

Gyms and sit-down restaurants were cleared Monday to open at 50% capacity, while salons were capped at 25% with appointments required.

The banner outside Creative Images Salon in Portales says, "WE ARE OPEN" in giant red block letters, but asks people to stay in their car and call for appointments. On the inside, curtains separate every chair and station - even the waiting room chairs, which are empty as customers come in one at a time for appointments.

Joyce Fogg, who has operated the salon for more than 25 years, had anticipated for the last few weeks that some level of reopening would happen for salons and has loaded up the appointment calendar.

"It's been really good today," Fogg said Monday, "but they've called for the last few weeks."

Fogg doesn't know what the building's fire-code capacity is, but it's difficult to imagine more than 10 people inside at once with the five employees each taking one person at a time.

Plexiglass is set up at the nail tables, temperatures are taken at the door and customers wear face masks. When the ear straps get in the way of a cut, Fogg says they're temporarily taken off and the customer either holds the mask in place or receives a towel to cover their mouth.

On the Portales square, the Courthouse Cafe isn't too concerned about butting up against a 50% capacity restriction with 100 patrons allowed. But Manager Rob Newell said, "I'd love to try."

Newell doubts anybody outside of Santa Fe would care much if it were to reach 51%, but the only time he remembers the place with that kind of crowd came when it hosted Dora High's prom.

The business on the Portales square is coming up on its two-year anniversary in the fall, having first opened as a gift shop before adding a bakery and then the restaurant.

The establishment has had its difficulties, but Newell said other restaurants are taking much harder hits.

"We were fortunate," Newell said of the restaurant's success with to-go orders. "We were able to get by. We didn't have to lay anybody off, we didn't have to fire anybody."

In Clovis, Mamacita's on Prince Street has much less square footage. Manager Jennifer Zubiate imagines about 42 people could fit in the restaurant if they fill up the available tables. Half of the tables have a sign indicating they're not available.

Zubiate said the first day of sit-down was, "a little hectic, but it's nice," after weeks of only offering curbside delivery.

Zubiate said to keep the occupancy within range, staff tries to be more watchful than before when a party is ready to cash out.

Between each visit, staff also works to sanitize tables, chairs and even menus.

"We try to keep our masks on," Zubiate said, "but it gets hot back there (in the kitchen)."

Some restaurants haven't thrown open the doors just yet. For instance, Roma's Italian Restaurant has opted to do a soft reopening by requiring reservations to dine in person.

It's certainly been difficult for Chris Robertson and the Clovis Rock Gym, with nothing but donations coming in since mid-March.

"I've never seen as much support in my life; so many people have checked in asking if they can help," said Robertson, whose three-year anniversary of opening shop came while it was closed. "The military people are my biggest supporters."

Aden Vaughn, who is stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, couldn't wait to get back in after more than two months away from exercises he couldn't replicate at home.

"As soon as I walked in here, my mood became so much better," Vaughn said between climbs. "I can only get so much exercise walking my dog before it gets boring as hell."

Allison Powell had come in three to four times a week for an entire year before mid-March, and needed a little more time between climbs to catch her breath.

"I just got weak," Powell conceded between runs.

The gym is limited to 50 people at a time. Robertson's Monday afternoon crowd was somewhere around a 10th of that, but he was concerned he might have to bar entry to a few people once 5 p.m. comes.

The gym is required to cap customer visits at two hours, but Robertson said the average user isn't looking to spend that much time in one session.