Retailers in downtown Plano hosted a kickoff event for to-go sales starting at 10 a.m. April 24. By mid-afternoon, retailers had already seen a number of customers, according to Michael Hamilton, owner of La Foofaraw.

Hamilton has been combining virtual shopping with curbside pickup, giving video tours of the store and taking orders online or over the phone. When an order is made, he wraps the items at the front of the store and carries them out while wearing a mask.

"It's been fantastic," he said.

For first-time to-go retail shopper Alexandra Kieth, the shopping experience was easy and exciting. Her son had spotted a few items he wanted in the window of Pipe and Palette a few days before. Kieth ordered the items online and then knocked on the door to pick them them up.

"It worked out perfect for me to come and pick up some stuff," Kieth said. "And I'm excited to see people and cars in downtown Plano again because it's been a while."


Many stores found innovative ways to continue selling to customers before statewide restrictions on curbside retail service were lifted April 24 under an executive order last week from Gov. Greg Abbott. Many offered online shopping and delivery or facilitated purchases through social media accounts. The retail to-go effort for all businesses is the latest effort to start reopening the economy.

La Foofaraw has its door open, but customers are not allowed inside. For Hamilton, this is just another step he's having to take before being able to let people back into his store.

"That's how we're gonna survive for the next few weeks, hopefully," Hamilton said. "And then start maybe trickling in one at a time, two at a time. ... We'll see."