As salons in Indiana prepare to re-open, those in Michigan must remain closed

EDWARDSBURG, Mich. -- As most of Indiana wraps up its first week of beginning to re-open – restaurants, bars and salons are preparing to open up their doors once again on Monday.

But just north in Michigan – it’s an entirely different situation.

Michigan’s stay-at-home order was extended until May 28th Thursday, but Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the state is already in phase 3 of her six-step "Start Safe" plan.

That means Michigan is at the “flattening” stage – cases are no longer increasing, but right now, only a select few types of businesses can get back to work.

Those are construction, manufacturing, other outdoor work and real estate – but they must follow strict guidelines.

As for salons and retail stores, they can’t reopen in any capacity until Michigan reaches phase 4 – for restaurants, it’s phase 5.

At a time where many are ready to get back into salons, it has some in Michigan concerned about clients getting services across the state line.

"We’re hoping that our clients will stand by us and hold out if they can. I think if it’s only a few more weeks they’ll wait for us, because they know that we need them and we need to get our business back up and flourishing again," said Kellie Montgomery, co-owner of Rock Paper Scissors Styling Salon in Edwardsburg. "So I'm hoping that will be the case. I think if it goes out longer term then I certainly couldn’t blame them for going over the state line.”

At Meraki Salon and Day Spa in Granger, they’re following all of Indiana’s guidelines for re-opening and are already booked three weeks out. Still, they're anticipating new clients coming from Michigan once they can open up more appointments in June.

"They’re not much different from CDC rules, but [people] do have to wear a mask in my establishment, if they don’t they will not be allowed in. They have to use hand sanitizer as soon as they walk in the door, they have to stay at least six feet away from everyone, they can’t come in until their appointment time," said Jina Fisel, owner of Meraki Salon and Day Spa. "We just are trying to make everything as easy as possible and I don’t want my girls to get sick. I also don’t want somebody to come in who’s sick and give it to one of us and then we touch how many people that day.”

Some of the rules set by the St. Joseph County Health Department include putting barricades in spots where it’s not possible to keep six feet of distance and scheduling appointments far enough apart to avoid contact between clients.