LONDON, May 27 (Reuters) - British bicycles and car parts
retailer Halfords said on Wednesday it was reopening 53
of its stores across the country, having implemented social
distancing measures to counter the threat of the coronavirus.
The group said the reopenings follow successful trials at
its Peterborough, central England, and Bristol Cribbs Causeway,
western England, stores and will be the first time that
customers have been allowed in store since the national lockdown
started on March 23.
As Halfords was granted "essential" retailer status, 335 of
its 446 retail stores have until now been operating under a Dark
Store model during the lockdown. This means that customers have
been unable to browse and instead have been placing orders with
Halfords staff outside the front of the store.
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Kate Holton)