It’s been almost a week since New Jersey lifted its indoor mask mandate, with the recommendation, based on CDC guidance, that unvaccinated individuals continue wearing a face covering in public spaces – especially indoors – to protect themselves and everyone else.

The executive order, by Gov. Phil Murphy, effective Friday, May 28, states people in retail stores, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and most other indoor venues, including concert halls, no longer need to wear a face covering or stay six feet apart from other individuals. The order also put the onus on businesses to determine their masking policy for employees, customers and guests. (Masks continue to be required in state offices such as Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, health care settings, and all forms of public transportation).

If you’ve been inside any larger retail stores as well as some supermarket chains in the last few days, you might have done a double take seeing people indoors without masks. Or, maybe you went maskless yourself?

Montclair businesses who have already endured so many challenges during the pandemic, have faced a new one — what to do about masks. Many are sharing their new mask policies on social media.

The team at Little Daisy Bake Shop is not ready to go maskless, but they won’t require you to wear one.

“We will continue to wear them for the time being. We kindly ask that you respect our decision to be in masks, and respect other customers’ choices on masks as well. Wearing a mask in our bakery is encouraged and appreciated but not required,” the Upper Montclair bakery shared on Instagram.

Starbucks may have made mask wearing optional, but local coffee purveyors have a different view. Over at Paper Plane Coffee, masking continues for customers:

“We know times are changing, especially with the updated mask guidelines. Wearing a mask has been our practice from the very beginning, primarily out of caution for the safety of our staff, guests, friends, neighbors, and most vulnerable members of our community. We want to maintain that same level of safety moving forward. We ask that while you are ordering or picking up, you are masked. This option is the safest way to assure all of our guest can move about with ease. We are also expanding our outdoor seating this summer which we’re hoping everyone can enjoy, even our furry guests.” – Jonathan Echeverry, owner of Paper Plane Coffee Co.

Java Love is continuing to ask customers to mask up at all its locations.

Hair salons are also taking different approaches. Gumdrop Hairdressing announced their new guidelines, effective last Friday, would be for client to choose whether to wear a mask or not, but added that “staff will be wearing a mask still until a later date, to ensure your safety.”

Meanwhile, Parlor Hair Studio owner Wendy Fox posted this picture along with the salon’s mask policy:

“Though Governor Murphy has lifted the indoor mask mandate, due to the nature of our business and the close proximity between our stylists and our guests, we are going to wait a bit to burn our masks! We are just not ready. We will continue to enforce face coverings as you enter our salon for a bit longer.”

The Eclectic Chic Boutique announced that shoppers are no longer required to wear masks.

Where do you stand on masking?

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