Lineups in Waterloo region as non-essential stores prepare to close

Stores across Waterloo region that are no longer considered essential services experienced lineups Saturday as they prepared to close their doors.

Premier Doug Ford announced on Friday the government was reducing the number of essential workplace categories from 74 to 44. More non-essential businesses will have to close Saturday by 11:59 p.m., including some construction sites and cannabis retail stores.

Other businesses, such as animal supplies stores and hardware stores, can now only operate through curbside pickup and delivery. People in Kitchener decided to stock up pet supplies while they could still go to the store.

William Leader waited in line at Meta Cannabis in Kitchener for about an hour before the store shut down.

"It makes sense to limit the amount of retail places where people are closer together," Leader said. "It would be nice to have a little bit  more heads up time, but I get that we got to act fast."

Popeye's Supplements, which sells protein powder and nutritional supplements, is also shutting down its Kitchener store temporarily.

"We've already had to do layoffs, now we're being laid off, which is the most socially responsible thing to do," said Lee Cook, the store's general manager.

"We don't want to spread the virus...I think it's important we all keep safe."

Jersey Mike's Subs will be shutting its doors for the next two weeks.

As a food service, it's still deemed essential by the province, but general manger Candice Packer said she didn't feel safe keeping it open any longer.

"It was an option to stay open, but as general manager I expressed to my owner I don't feel comfortable," she said.

"I do believe personally...that more takeout businesses should be closed," Packer said. "The customers coming into the store is the most scary thing for us because we don't know how seriously each customer is taking [physical distancing]."