Businesses in Lake Geneva’s downtown tourism and shopping district are wasting no time in reopening for customers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Clothing stores, souvenir shops, taverns and more are welcoming customers back, now that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned the state’s “Safer At Home” public health safeguards.
Linda Longwell, owner of Leather Accents, 717 Main St., Lake Geneva, wears a face mask as a coronavirus safeguard while organizing merchandise in her reopened store.
Shoppers Chuck Settles, left, and Carol Palfroman, both of Rochelle, Illinois, shop in downtown Lake Geneva, where crowds have largely ignored recommendations for face masks and other public health precautions.
Overland Sheepskin Company store employees, Diana Bahrke, left, and Tyler Blohm, prepare merchandise for shoppers as the downtown Lake Geneva clothing store reopens.
Photos from May 2020: Downtown Lake Geneva reopens during coronavirus pandemic
Shoppers return to Main Street during pandemic
Crowds in downtown Lake Geneva have included many people not wearing face masks or taking other safety precautions to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.
Shoppers in Christine's Gift Shop in Lake Geneva
Shoppers Chuck Settles, left, and Carol Palfroman, both of Rochelle, Illinois, opt to go face mask-less while shopping inside Christine's Gift Shop, 858 W. Main St., in downtown Lake Geneva.
Cars line up heading into downtown Lake Geneva
Motorists wait in line May 16 along Main Street as shoppers and visitors pour into downtown Lake Geneva on the first Saturday after a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling allowed many businesses to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.
Customers wait in line at Kilwins candy shop
Customers line up outside Kilwins Lake Geneva candy and ice cream shop May 16 as shoppers and tourists return to downtown Lake Geneva during the coronavirus outbreak.
Leather Accents owner Linda Longwell wears face mask
Linda Longwell, a store owner in downtown Lake Geneva, wears a face mask to safeguard against spreading the coronavirus.
Oakfire restaurant crowd poses for a picture
An employee at Oakfire restaurant in downtown Lake Geneva takes a picture of customers in sidewalk seating in May as crowds of tourists arrived in the city without face masks.
Woman relaxes on bench with her bulldog on Broad Street
Taking a breather on a bench May 16 along Broad Street in downtown Lake Geneva, Mary Ingraffia-Ksiazek of Bartlett, Illinois, enjoys a sunny day with her French bulldog, "Stas."
Overland Sheepskin employees prepare for returning shoppers
Overland Sheepskin Company store employees, Diana Bahrke, left, and Tyler Blohm, prepare merchandise for shoppers as the downtown Lake Geneva clothing store reopens during the coronavirus pandemic.
Visitors wear face masks in Library Park in Lake Geneva
Visitors on the Lake Geneva lakefront show that some in the community are choosing to wear face masks, while many others are not.
Candle shop worker gets candles ready for shoppers
Natalie Sliwinski, employee at The Candle Mercantile, 870 W. Main St., prepares some candles for customers after reopening the candle shop in downtown Lake Geneva.
Shoppers seek return to normalcy in downtown Lake Geneva
Sandra Mesa, from left, Debbie Wester and Patricia Haisman enjoy a day of shopping in downtown Lake Geneva. Local businesses have experienced in an increase in foot traffic now that the state’s “Safer at Home” order has been lifted.
Crowds back on Main Street in Lake Geneva
Many shoppers and visitors forgo face masks and other public health guidelines on Main Street in downtown Lake Geneva as stores reopen May 17 during the coronavirus pandemic. Many people flocked from Illinois to Lake Geneva after a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling allowed Wisconsin businesses to reopen.
Bookstore employee wears face mask as stores reopen during pandemic
Raina Remeeus, owner of Dust Bunny Books, 152 Center St., joins other business owners in wearing a face mask, although many shops are allowing customers to forgo the public health safeguard.
Popeye's outdoor patio fills up during first Saturday back
The outdoor dining area of Popeye’s on Lake Geneva, 811 Wrigley Drive, could have more shade this summer, as owners plan to install three outdoor umbrellas to the area.
Photos from May 2020: Downtown Lake Geneva reopens during coronavirus pandemic
Shoppers return to Main Street during pandemic
Crowds in downtown Lake Geneva have included many people not wearing face masks or taking other safety precautions to guard against the spread of the coronavirus.
Shoppers in Christine's Gift Shop in Lake Geneva
Shoppers Chuck Settles, left, and Carol Palfroman, both of Rochelle, Illinois, opt to go face mask-less while shopping inside Christine's Gift Shop, 858 W. Main St., in downtown Lake Geneva.
Cars line up heading into downtown Lake Geneva
Motorists wait in line May 16 along Main Street as shoppers and visitors pour into downtown Lake Geneva on the first Saturday after a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling allowed many businesses to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic.
Customers wait in line at Kilwins candy shop
Customers line up outside Kilwins Lake Geneva candy and ice cream shop May 16 as shoppers and tourists return to downtown Lake Geneva during the coronavirus outbreak.
Leather Accents owner Linda Longwell wears face mask
Linda Longwell, a store owner in downtown Lake Geneva, wears a face mask to safeguard against spreading the coronavirus.
Oakfire restaurant crowd poses for a picture
An employee at Oakfire restaurant in downtown Lake Geneva takes a picture of customers in sidewalk seating in May as crowds of tourists arrived in the city without face masks.
Woman relaxes on bench with her bulldog on Broad Street
Taking a breather on a bench May 16 along Broad Street in downtown Lake Geneva, Mary Ingraffia-Ksiazek of Bartlett, Illinois, enjoys a sunny day with her French bulldog, "Stas."
Overland Sheepskin employees prepare for returning shoppers
Overland Sheepskin Company store employees, Diana Bahrke, left, and Tyler Blohm, prepare merchandise for shoppers as the downtown Lake Geneva clothing store reopens during the coronavirus pandemic.
Visitors wear face masks in Library Park in Lake Geneva
Visitors on the Lake Geneva lakefront show that some in the community are choosing to wear face masks, while many others are not.
Candle shop worker gets candles ready for shoppers
Natalie Sliwinski, employee at The Candle Mercantile, 870 W. Main St., prepares some candles for customers after reopening the candle shop in downtown Lake Geneva.
Shoppers seek return to normalcy in downtown Lake Geneva
Sandra Mesa, from left, Debbie Wester and Patricia Haisman enjoy a day of shopping in downtown Lake Geneva. Local businesses have experienced in an increase in foot traffic now that the state’s “Safer at Home” order has been lifted.
Crowds back on Main Street in Lake Geneva
Many shoppers and visitors forgo face masks and other public health guidelines on Main Street in downtown Lake Geneva as stores reopen May 17 during the coronavirus pandemic. Many people flocked from Illinois to Lake Geneva after a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling allowed Wisconsin businesses to reopen.
Bookstore employee wears face mask as stores reopen during pandemic
Raina Remeeus, owner of Dust Bunny Books, 152 Center St., joins other business owners in wearing a face mask, although many shops are allowing customers to forgo the public health safeguard.
Popeye's outdoor patio fills up during first Saturday back
The outdoor dining area of Popeye’s on Lake Geneva, 811 Wrigley Drive, could have more shade this summer, as owners plan to install three outdoor umbrellas to the area.
