Reopening-How can small businesses adapt layouts to meet social distancing guidelines

In an unexpected move, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that tattoo parlors, hair and nail salons and other small businesses would reopen as early as April 24, 2020 in the state of Georgia.

What “state reopening” means for us:

Governor Kemp is not the only one eager to bring businesses back online. Hundreds of protesters crowded into downtown Raleigh last Tuesday for a third week of rallies aimed at reversing Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-home order in North Carolina.

It seems a reasonable human nature that people cannot stay home for too long, regardless of the possible impacts on their health and well-being.

Why moving small businesses outdoors matters:

1. It is easier to maintain the 6 ft social distancing guidelines

2. According to a survey from University of Washington, shoppers are willing to spend more when shopping in pleasant natural settings.

“Shoppers claim that they will spend 9% to 12% more for goods and services in central business districts having high quality tree canopies”

“Shoppers indicate that they will travel greater distance and a longer time to visit a district having high quality trees and spend more time there once they arrive.”

Challenges for current indoor space for small business

A recent survey done by Public Private Strategy, shows that the biggest concern for small businesses are cash flow challenges (85%) and lack of customers (72%). Those specific concern are related to having a store open during the COVID 19 crisis.

What regulation and science tell us:

Study shows when the virus becomes suspended in droplets smaller than five micrometers- known as aerosols- it can stay suspended for about a half-hour, before drifting down and settling on surface. — The New York Times

Outdoor airflow rate in those traditional indoor space in business does not circulate fast enough to avoid the risk of spreading infectious diseases.

There are certain air exchange rates commonly used in different types of rooms and buildings.

For example, the minimum ventilation rate for dining room at restaurants is 7.5 cubic feet per minute per person; and 0.18 cubic feet per minute per square feet. (reference from Mechanical Code 2015, Table 403.1.1)

A question for myself:

How can we change the layout of our environment to help those small businesses?

During this pandemic crisis, I realize these existing parking grids (average parking space size 8 ft x 20 ft) are a good reference for us to easily layout an outdoor shopping modality. This adapted layout will respect the guidelines and new realities of social distancing without much cost or changing the existing context.

Ever since I moved to Maryland, my husband and I go to the Farmer’s Market in town of Kensington as our weekend ritual. Hence, I would like to demonstrate this idea using Kensington’s Farmer’s market as an example.

On a regular weekend, there are 10–12 vendors gather in the Kensington’s train station’s parking lot. This plan illustrates the possibility to expand the market to the other side of the train track to accommodate more vendors (20) and as part of new shopping modality.

New shopping modality after COVID 19: After planning according to parking grids, the site can accommodate more vendors. The place-specific stickers indicate 6 ft distance mark, so shoppers can easily locate themselves without any confusion.

The coronavirus outbreak is rapidly evolving. To stay informed, check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as your local health department for updates. If you are interested in reading more illustration in this related article, check out www.phdesigns.us/thoughts