How will stores and businesses handle customer demands upon reopening?

The Quarantine Zone
1

A thread about donating items when moving got me thinking.

With things reopening soon, I am looking forward to shopping at thrift stores again. But I am pondering when would be the best time to go. The stores have been unattended for weeks, and they will need time to process donations. Is shopping right away too soon? How long 'til the best items are on the shelves? How many people have the same desire to go shopping? How will social distancing stand up to everyone who’s been stuck at home for weeks all wanting to go shopping?
Stores and businesses will also have to recall employees who were laid off or hire new staff. How many will want to continue to collect unemployment since they get more than they did when they were working?

If businesses are finally able to reopen, I’m certain that demand for services will skyrocket. We’ve been stuck at home for weeks (except essential workers, but I suspect most of them have been working very hard, like my custodian husband) and want to go out and do stuff!
How many people need haircuts? How many want manicures? Teeth cleaning? New glasses? Car repairs and oil changes? The list is very long.

What about the people who have been denied medical treatment? Non-emergency care was shut down to keep from overwhelming hospitals; now everyone who needs non-emergency care will be trying to schedule appointments ASAP. (Especially because “non-emergency” meant cancer diagnoses and treatments in some cases.) And hospitals will be booked to capacity very quickly, maybe even overwhelming the system.

If you are a business owner, know that many people have been praying for you and your business while this economic nightmare has been dragging on. What plans and potential problems are you looking at?

Consumers, are you planning on moderating your consumption, or are you going to brave the crowds and the waiting?

2

My concern is with medical appointments. I have three specialists I normally would have seen during this time. Will doctors’ offices call to reschedule, or will there be a stampede of callers and long, long waits on hold? How many months out will they be scheduling then?

3

Consumer here. I fear business owners opening soonest will be most susceptible to contagion, and that earliest patrons will be the least cautious, not caring who they may infect. Any re-openings will be slow, risky, painful.

The 49er Gold Rush county seat’s quaint main street is lined with gift and antique shops, beauty parlors, candy and snack vendors, realty and law offices, bars, all closed now - how can they re-open with restrictions? The “essential” kitchen store stayed open. A couple eateries survive with takeouts; some are too small for seating at a safe distance. Bookstore, shoe store / cobbler, trophy shop - will customers risk entering?

That is a walkable main street. We’ve no enclosed malls nearby so I don’t know how of if they’ll manage.