Grassroots Books, an independent bookstore located in Reno, has adapted to selling books in spaced out tables in their parking lot in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.
There are also rules for those who want to browse the books during the outside sale. Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a face covering over their mouth and nose, and if the parking lot is full, come back another time.
Customers around the U.S. have resorted to violence and screaming at employees working during the COVID-19 pandemic, over being required to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Grassroots Books took to Facebook after several of their employees were harassed over the bookstore’s mask policy on May 21.
“IT IS NOT OK TO SHOW UP WITHOUT A MASK and then yell “F**** YOU, F*** GRASSROOTS” to our young woman organizing the books, after she asks you get a mask. A man did this in the last half hour,” Grassroots Books wrote in the comments of their Facebook post on May 21. “She was still shaky 25 minutes later, when the owner phoned her, and doesn’t want to organize outside anymore today.”
Grassroots Books’ comment went on to state another staff member was called names and the patron didn’t respect the six-feet rule.
“IT IS ALSO NOT OK TO SHOW UP WITHOUT A MASK and then call our team member “a little boy” and “a Nazi.” And advancing, advancing, advancing while our team member said “BACK OFF, BACK OFF.” Our team member couldn’t care less about your name-calling! But getting within 2 feet is absolutely not ok,” Grassroots Books’ comment said.
Grassroots Books also posted some of their negative reviews regarding their mask policy.
“We want you to know we heard you,” Grassroots Books wrote before listing three complaints the bookstore has received.
- Gary said, “I will not attend only because of the ludicrous mask restriction… Walmart has thousands of attendees daily with no mask restriction… Obviously I will never be a patron of your business.”
- Kat said, “It’s safe even if it’s inside. Stop drinking the KoolAid.”
- Michelle said, “Wearing masks outside is absurd.”
Grassroots Books responded to the comments saying, “We have found that government has said all different things. We like the idea that no one is coughing on the books. We aim for zero people infected here.”
This Is Reno reached out to Grassroots Books for comment but was told they are not ready to discuss the matter.
The outside sale is currently open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and patrons can buy a book for 99 cents. The bookstore isn’t accepting cash, and asking customers to pay afterwards, online or call 775-828-2665.
Patrons can also shop inside, but must make an appointment to do so. Only one person is allowed inside at a time according to Grassroots Books’ Facebook post. Customers can also partake in contactless curbside pickup.
This Is Reno’s COVID-19 news coverage
COVID-19, hospital capacity discussed by hospital official
The long-term effects of COVID-19 are unknown at this time, but Renown’s CEO touched on some of the health impacts the hospitals have seen.
COVID-19 cases in Washoe County: 3,258 total, 82 dead, 1,986 recovered
Washoe County also reported 150 new cases of COVID-19 today, the most the county has seen, surpassing the second highest total of 119, reported yesterday.
Black business owner shares effects of pandemic, Black Lives Matter movement
Shita Yenenh has struggled to keep her business afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has faced additional stress as issues of race have also come to the forefront.
Una empresaria afroamericana comparte los impactos de la pandemia, el movimiento Black Lives Matter
Shita Yenenh ha luchado para mantener su negocio viable durante la pandemia COVID-19 y se ha enfrentado a una tensión adicional, ya que las cuestiones de raza también han pasado a primer plano.
Lessons learned from distance learning in Washoe County
The Washoe County School District is now creating several different plans for possible fall instruction. One option is a blended learning model, which would include both in-person and remote instruction.
Lecciones aprendidas de la educación a distancia en el condado de Washoe
El distrito escolar del condado de Washoe está preparando los planes para diferentes formatos de instrucción en el otoño. Una opción es el aprendizaje híbrido.
The new normal (opinion)
OPINION: We will exit this crisis through a door different from the one we entered, and if you don’t adapt you will be crushed.
Sisolak announces Nevada will be in phase two through end of July
Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a directive to extend phase two of his reopening plan to July 31.
Spread out desks, half-empty buses: Schools plan to reopen
Face masks, spaced out desks and half-empty buses: Things will look different when students from throughout Nevada return for the 2020-2021 school year.
Nevada coronavirus uptick hits Latinos, people age 20-49
More than half of the state’s confirmed cases have been in individuals ages 20-49 and 42% of those who have tested positive have been Latino — mirroring nationwide trends.
2 comments
Private businesses are private property. It’s their rules or the highway. If covidiots really want to protest mask-wearing, they should do it properly by inviting strangers from the public to hang out at their own houses for a few hours, no masks allowed. I personally have seen a lot of nose-picking in public during this respiratory virus pandemic, which really shows how much people do not understand about how a respiratory virus enters the body.
when i enter a business and see a patron without a mask ….i leave and most likely will not come back.
unmasked people contaminate food, if anyone says different they are lying and haven’t done any research.
any person threatening an employee about their mask policy should be arrested for assault. people not wearing face coverings while shopping just may kill you. they are a threat to decent people.
Comments are closed.