How Signs at Businesses Evolved During the Pandemic

The words gracing storefronts, shelves and cash registers remind us all of the new normal

by Aaron Kassraie, AARP, June 18, 2020

signs taped to the a storefront outlining rules under coronavirus

Robert K. Chin / Alamy Stock Photo

COVID-19 related signs taped to the windows of a store in New York.

En español | As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, Americans stocked up on supplies and hunkered down to ride out the health crisis. Now, even as much of the country takes steps to reopen businesses and resume activities, daily life is far from normal. Face masks and physical distancing are constant reminders. So, too, are the signs posted by businesses. Here's a look at how these signs evolved over time, from handwritten warnings of “No toilet paper” to professionally printed admonitions of “No Mask, No Service.” See for yourself.

AARP Membership -Join AARP for just $12 for your first year when you enroll in automatic renewal

Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life.

|
Photos

- 1 of
PHOTO BY: Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

Early on in the pandemic stores quickly sold out of key supplies to sanitize our hands and clean commonly touched surfaces. This sign in a store in the Bronx, New York, indicated it was sold out of many of these products in early March. Months later, many stores have yet to fully restock.
- 2 of
PHOTO BY: Sayed Najafizada/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In response to concerns over hoarding, some retailers set limits on the quantity of items that could be bought. Toilet paper and hand sanitizer, in particular, were rationed in hopes of making them available to more households.
- 3 of
PHOTO BY: Simone Hogan / Alamy Stock Photo

As dining rooms were shuttered, restaurants turned to takeout and delivery for their survival. Curbside pickup emerged as a new method of receiving orders to limit contact between patrons and staff.
- 4 of
PHOTO BY: Christophe Coat / Alamy Stock Photo

Following weeks of temporary shutdowns and sheltering in place, more businesses began the cautious process of reopening in May. Guidelines from state and local health authorities, as well as the CDC, dictated what types of businesses could open when and the safety precautions each should follow.
- 5 of
PHOTO BY: Steve Skjold / Alamy Stock Photo

Physical distancing continues to play a critical role in efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Footprint markers six feet apart were added to the checkout line at this Target store in St. Paul, Minnesota.
- 6 of
PHOTO BY: Christophe Coat / Alamy Stock Photo

Masks have become a common sight in public and an increasingly common requirement for entering many shops and businesses. According to the CDC, masks and homemade face coverings help deter infections via respiratory droplets when people cough, sneeze or even talk.
- 7 of
PHOTO BY: Maranie Staab/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Going to work for some comes with new health requirements such as temperature checks for employees. But it also comes with new responsibilities like making sure customers follow social distancing and mask requirements.
- 8 of
PHOTO BY: Maranie Staab/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Some businesses offer discounts for hospital personnel and first responders to show gratitude for those on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus.