More Stores In Manchester Now Requiring Customer Masks

MANCHESTER, CT — Shoppers in Manchester better have their masks ready when visiting certain major stores. Several of them either require masks or are about to.

A mandatory mask policy is already in affect at Kohl's. Shoppers were greeted with signs at the front of the store in Manchester Thursday informing them of the face-covering requirement.

Kohl's executives said in a statement announcing the policy, "Store associates have been trained on the new health and safety measures in place, and we have associate greeters at the entrance of each store to welcome shoppers and remind them to wear masks."

Best Buy began requiring masks for customers Wedneday.

"This new requirement will help protect not only our shoppers and communities, but also the tens of thousands of Best Buy employees working to serve our customers each day," the company said in a news release Tuesday.

Best Buy says it will provide face coverings to shoppers who don't have one and notes "small children and those unable to wear one for health reasons may enter without one."

The statement also read, "Any customer who has a concern about wearing a mask will be able to shop Best Buy via our website and app and choose home delivery or contactless curbside pickup, which remains in place at all our stores."

Kohl's said that about 70 percent of its stores are already subject to a mask requirement due to local guidelines. Walmart put that figure at 65 percent and will begin making masks required for all shoppers on Monday.

Walmart has created the role of "health ambassador" for its stores. The ambassadors will be stationed near entrances "to remind those without a mask of our new requirements." The ambassadors have received "special training" to help "make the process as smooth as possible for customers," the COOs said. They will be dressed in black polo shirts and will "work with customers who show up at a store without a face covering to try and find a solution."
"Solutions" for Walmart are currently being discussed at the executive level, the COOs said.

At Sam's Club locations, associates at the entrances, "will follow the same process with members, politely reminding them of our requirement to wear a face covering when shopping with us." Complimentary masks will be provided if a member doesn't have one and members can purchase masks in the club, the announcement says.

All stores will have a single entrances.

Starbucks began requiring customers to wear facial coverings or masks in all 9,000 of its company-owned US stores Wednesday. That comes with the recent relocation of one Starbucks into a bigger location across the Plaza at Buckland Hills.

Verizon, and AT&T stores are also requiring masks.