Businesses and customers weigh in on return of NY’s mask mandate

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — For the first day of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new Mask Mandate for indoor businesses, News10NBC visited a couple of places to see if customers are actually complying with the mask order.

Businesses we visited Monday had signs up letting customers know to put on a mask. What we didn’t see is owners and staff asking to see proof of vaccinations.

It was business as usual at Hegedorns Market in Webster. Mask requirement signs were posted both at the front door and throughout the supermarket. Manager Jon Gonzalez said so far so good with customer compliance to the new mandate.

"It’s a learning curve. I think a lot of people heard the news, but a lot of people also didn’t so everyone is kind of getting readjusted to this. All the employees are wearing masks, but we’re working with customers to inform them of the new rules and get them acclimated to it," Gonzalez said.

Some customers we talked to were happy to comply.

"I think it’s great to wear masks again to protect other people, and ourselves," Peter Barlotta said.

Meg Cassidy added, "It’s not much of a change. I’ve been wearing one pretty constantly for the last couple of months."

Of course, you have others not happy at all with the mandate.

"We’re going to be wearing bags over our heads next if you let this administration continue, and I’m talking right from the top," said Jim Kielon. "Biden."

Customers that do come in without a mask won’t ultimately be turned away.

"We’re offering free masks for those customers that come in, and they don’t have one on them cause they didn’t hear the news, and we’re addressing it case by case," Gonzalez. said

Down in Livingston County, Leaning Tower of Pizza shop Owner Anthony Pagano said he fully agrees with Hochul’s mandate. He has a sign on his door saying masks are required for entry, and there are no exceptions.

"Unless we have somebody standing at the door checking on whether or not they are vaccinated, our only alternative is to just have a mask mandate for our business," Pagano said.

Livingston County officials did tell News10NBC they will not enforce the governor’s masking mandate due to a lack of state resources. We’re still waiting to hear back from Monroe County. Click here to see what other counties said.