'It’s going to change a lot’: Local businesses reopen under Phase 2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Local business owners have been waiting months to reopen their doors and the time has finally come.

Indoor dining at restaurants, pools and personal care services can all reopen at 5 p.m. in North Carolina, but not without some changes.

Under “Safer at Home Phase 2, the stay-at-home order is lifted, so restaurants and personal care services can welcome customers indoors at a limited capacity and with safety guidelines.

Public pools can also reopen with capacity limits, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

Bars, gyms, playgrounds and other indoor entertainment will need to remain closed for another 4 to 6 weeks.

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Several local business told Channel 9 that they’re eager to reopen.

Many have retrained their staff and implemented state health recommendations to facilitate safe reopenings.

Despite restrictions, some customers are already showing up at restaurants to get their first meal out in months.

>>In the video below Channel 9′s Joe Bruno shows us how one local restaurant has adapted in the era of social distancing.

How one local restaurant is adjusting to the era of social distancing as it reopens its doors How one local restaurant is adjusting to the era of social distancing as it reopens its doors

5 p.m. couldn’t come quickly enough for barbershops like Master Cuts in west Charlotte.

They have been closed for more than two months and they lost that business, but the owner told Channel 9 the community had also lost a part of their soul.

>>In the video below Channel 9′s Mark Becker talks to a barbershop owner about what he’s doing to keep his clients safe and why he feels barbershops reopening could play a key role in the community.

Why one local barbershop owner says reopening plays a key role in the community Why one local barbershop owner says reopening plays a key role in the community

It’s more than just barbershops and restaurants that can reopen in North Carolina Friday. Tattoo parlors can reopen as well.

>>In the video below, Channel 9 sports anchor Matt Harris shows us some of the precautions one local tattoo shop will be implementing as part of its reopening.

The precautions one local tattoo shop is implementing as part of its reopening The precautions one local tattoo shop is implementing as part of its reopening

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