Thompson: ‘We never should have been closed’

HAMILTON - Hamilton business owner Ray Thompson of Thompson’s Menswear expressed his delight in finally being able to open his doors to the public on Friday, May 1, after the end of the curfew enacted by Gov. Kay Ivey and Marion County.
“It’s been rough on us,” said Thompson, “I’m proud to open, we never should have been closed. I hope we can do some business, it’s going to be hard to get people back.”
Ivey announced on Tuesday, April 28, that the stay at home order would be changed to a “safer-at-home” order, which would allow retail businesses such as Thompson’s Menswear to reopen and resume business on April 30 at 5 p.m.
Thompson voiced his frustrations with local politicians such as Marion County Probate Judge Paige Vick and members of the Hamilton City Council, stating that decisions leading to the curfew order in Marion County were made without the knowledge of what must be done to run a business.