HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Many close contact business owners have reopened across the Valley, but they reopened with safety as their priority.
Some of those businesses include tattoo shops. 'Art-I-Facts Tattoo Gallery' owner, Shykeim Rashidah, says he's glad to reopen. However, as of Monday he just received financial assistance for small businesses.
"It's been a tough couple of months for everyone as we kind of waited it out, and we weren't getting any money in return," says Rashidah.
Tattoo artist, Susanna Graham has also felt the impact. "Super excited to be here. It's been hard you know because we really haven't been in that category of essential."
Graham says during the shutdown it's also been hard to file for unemployment.
"A lot of us have tried and been denied. Being back at work has really been a God-send, especially for people like me trying to start a family," she says.
Rashidah says he plans to implement changes, such as artists decontaminating their clothes when they go home from work, or wearing a certain uniform and shoes just for work.
He says they are also doubling up on sanitation. "We're doing twice daily, disinfection of the entire inside of the building."
Rashidah is implementing a limit of 10 customers in the building. One returning customer says she's getting used to the new normal.
"I guess it's just kind of a part of life now, and I kind of hope it stays, and we kind of stay cautious about how clean we are and to not touch our faces and to not touch a bunch of things and maybe washing our hands more," says Holli Aubot.
This tattoo shop like many close contact businesses require customers to wear masks.