Michigan Governor Stops Sale of Flooring in Home Centers

Lansing, MI, April 14, 2020--An executive order put in place by Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer limits what items can be purchased in stores permitted to remain open during the pandemic, reports NBC 25 News. “The order requires large stores to close areas dedicated to furniture, carpeting, plant nurseries, paint, and garden centers.”

“If you were thinking of using this quarantine to do some home beautification, think again," begins an article from the Metro Times. “On Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended Michigan's stay-at-home executive order, which is now in effect through April 30. In addition to extending the duration that nonessential businesses are to remain closed and Michigan residents are to remain at home, leaving only to pursue physical exercise or to shop for essential items, Thursday's extension also expanded other facets of the shutdown. The new executive order prohibits people from traveling for vacations, lowers maximum occupancy in stores, mandates designated social-distancing markers in high-traffic areas of stores, and limits access to nonessential items at stores. 

“‘If you’re not buying food or medicine or other essential items, you should not be going to the store," Whitmer said last Thursday.

A copy of the executive order is available here, and section 11 d2A speaks specifically to halting flooring sales.

Floor Focus has spoken with multiple Michigan floorcovering retailers who were upset about the uneven playing field that the pandemic closures have caused.