Tag Archives: essential businesses

Essential and Non-Essential Businesses in Virginia. What’s Open and What’s Closed?

As stated by Governor Northam, these businesses have been classified as Non-Essential, and must remain closed effective at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 24th until 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 23rd 2020:

  • Theaters, performing arts centers, concert venues, museums, and other indoor entertainment centers;
  • Fitness centers, gymnasiums, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities;
  • Beauty salons, barber shops, spas, massage parlors, tanning salons, tattoo shops, and any other location where personal care or personal grooming services are performed that would not allow compliance with social distancing guidelines to remain six feet apart;
  • Racetracks and historic horse racing facilities;
  • Bowling alleys, skating rinks, arcades, amusement parks, trampoline parks, fairs, arts and craft facilities, aquariums, zoos, escape rooms, indoor shooting ranges, public and private social clubs, and all other places of indoor public amusement.

All dining establishments must remain closed as well, however are permitted to continue to offer delivery and/or take out options and services. These include:

  • Restaurants;
  • Dining establishments;
  • Food courts;
  • Farmers markets;
  • Breweries;
  • Microbreweries;
  • Distilleries;
  • Wineries; and
  • Tasting rooms.

These retail businesses are considered to be essential, and may remain open during normal business hours:

  • Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers that sell food and beverage products or pharmacy products, including dollar stores, and department stores with grocery or pharmacy operations;
  • Medical, laboratory, and vision supply retailers;
  • Electronic retailers that sell or service cell phones, computers, tablets, and other communications technology;
  • Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers as well as automotive repair facilities;
  • Home improvement, hardware, building material, and building supply retailers;
  • Lawn and garden equipment retailers;
  • Beer, wine, and liquor stores;
  • Retail functions of gas stations and convenience stores;
  • Retail located within healthcare facilities;
  • Banks and other financial institutions with retail functions;
  • Pet stores and feed stores;
  • Printing and office supply stores; and
  • Laundromats and dry cleaners.

Any brick-and-mortar retail establishment not previously listed may remain open, however must limit its capacity to 10 Patron maximum for shopping. This 10-person maximum does not include employees of the establishment. In addition, all patrons and businesses must adhere to practicing social distancing, with a minimum of 6 feet of separation.

When it comes to Real Estate Offices, they are labeled as non-essential, however are permitted to remain open as long as they adhere to social distancing, and the 10-patron limit.