Phase 2 Plus in pictures: Hundreds queue as shops reopen

The second stage of Ireland’s lockdown exit strategy – or Phase 2 Plus – officially kicked off on Monday, June 8th and one thing was obvious straight off: there would be queuing 

Would you queue for over an hour to get into IKEA? Hundreds of would-be shoppers did on Monday morning. To buy, to browse, to feel a sense of life outside of working from home and too many Zoom calls.

Shopping is normal. It’s something we all did pre-pandemic. Before we knew life could change so quickly. For us, and for the business owners who put in their heart and soul to ensure theirs would thrive. No longer is it even about a purchase (though there was plenty of that), it’s about day-to-day post-Covid-19.

A hint that there is and will be, life after this virus. The nod from the government that we can start to offer our support locally, treat ourselves (and others) again (online shopping while great, doesn’t hold the same allure for many).

Related: What shops are open? How far can I travel? What you can do from today as Phase 2 Plus begins

Shops tentatively pulled open their shutters for the first time in months for a new sort of experience for both staff and customers. There were face masks, some gloves, plenty of queues and generally, a happy, relaxed atmosphere across the city.

Below, we have some of the photos and clips which captured a fresh start, virus or not, for many:

Many were prepared to wait:

Queue for ikea in Dublin, reopening today after lockdown. pic.twitter.com/ihwlBi5kzX

— Enda O’Dowd (@endajodowd) June 8, 2020

IKEA Dublin has just opened to the public.

The queue already stretches from the entrance, through the car park and back outside. pic.twitter.com/CLxEteRNKX

— Cónal Thomas (@ConalThomas) June 8, 2020

Some queued, just because:

Me: “What are you queening for? Zara?”
Person in queue: “I don’t know. Zara or H&M. Whichever opens” pic.twitter.com/yjUyuGMzdL

— Louise Burne (@louiseburne_) June 8, 2020

And it wasn’t just IKEA fans:

Photo: @willgoodbody

Some preferred to hold off on the flat-packing assembling:

Ireland’s retail sector re-opens this morning after a ten week shut down.

Here’s the queue to get into Zara in Dublin this morning. pic.twitter.com/NDbjq5VBE0

— Áine McMahon (@AineMcMahon) June 8, 2020

While others, such as staff from Brown Thomas and Arnotts (both due to open this week), started preparations:

Arnotts and Brown Thomas aren’t open until later in the week but they are in full swing preparing stores. pic.twitter.com/shRX6K85KY

— Will Goodbody (@willgoodbody) June 8, 2020

Face masks were worn by some, but not all:

Queues and PPE in Dublin, as Ireland eases its lockdown restrictions today,Northern Ireland to follow? Shooting for AFP pic.twitter.com/1vOL81BE89

— Paul Faith (@pa_faith) June 8, 2020

And quite a few “just came for a browse”:

? VIDEO: ‘We just came for a browse’: Hundreds queue in Dublin for Ikea’s reopening https://t.co/JowdMRwRMZ pic.twitter.com/eyqqCMcY5N

— Irish Times Video (@irishtimesvideo) June 8, 2020

Grafton Street was the busiest it’s been in months:

Photo: @willgoodbody

And yes:

Even buskers are back! pic.twitter.com/SD3YeMWreC

— Will Goodbody (@willgoodbody) June 8, 2020

Main photograph: @louiseburne_

Read more: Irish Hairdressers Federation releases guidelines that may allow salons to reopen on June 29

Read more: Penneys to reopen stores from June 12th

Read more: Here is what shops will look like when they reopen