Tupelo Furniture Markets holds first major event since coronavirus outbreak

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – Businesses across the state have opened back up after shelter place in orders have been lifted. And special sales events were also back on the schedule at the Tupelo Furniture Market.

Extra preparations have been taken for a popular children’s consignment sale that opens in two days.

Shoppers visiting the “New 2 U’ Consignment event will notice a lot of changes including, hand sanitizer stations set up throughout the space at the Tupelo Furniture Market.

This is the first major event since concerns over the coronavirus prompted shelter in place orders back in March.

“If your kid uses it, we sell it,” said Michelle Cox, who holds the “New 2 U’ children’s consignment sale twice a year at the Tupelo Furniture Market.

The event has attracted a large crowd of shoppers, looking for bargains on toys, games, clothes, furniture and other items.

The sale was scheduled earlier this year but was postponed because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Cox said she was glad restrictions were lifted, and businesses have opened back up.

“I think it’s up to us as individuals to self police and we all know what we need to do, it’s just a matter of everybody doing it, it will never go back to the way it was, it will just be a new normal,” said Cox.

Part of that new normal included the recommendation to wear face masks. Shoppers who don’t have one can buy one on site if they want to.

Cox is also encouraged people to leave their children home, but if they come, there would be a new rule to follow.

“If they elect to bring a child, the child has to be with them , in the past we have thousands of toys, kids 9, 10 and 11 years old, would at the toys, while mom was shopping at clothes, and that’s fine, back then, now we’re requiring the children stay with the adult,” Cox said.

Consignors, like Kara Webb, said they appreciated the extra safety measures.

“The space in the facility, hand sanitizer, masks everything provided for you makes you feel better and you kind of get to see multiple working in a certain area and it shows you you don’t have to be scared to go out to places,” Webb said.

Tupelo Furniture Market owner V.M. Cleveland said it’s important for the public to see events like New 2 U coming back.

“Since the governor opening things back up, we feel if we really do what we’re supposed to do this will be a great event,” Cleveland said.

As people checked out there were markers on the floor to keep shoppers a safe distance apart while in line. New 2 U has always been a popular event and organizers expected a big crowd, enjoying some safe shopping this weekend.

‘New 2 U’ starts Thursday and runs through Saturday. Also, the Tupelo Furniture Market will host the Flea Market the second week in June.