Shoppers will notice a small change in Tesco, Lidl, Dunnes and other Irish supermarkets today as non-essential retail will reopen fully.
Clothes can return to Tesco’s and Dunnes Stores shelves while Aldi and Lidl can restock their middle shelves.
People doing the weekly shop might have noticed that certain areas of the stores which sell homeware and clothing have been closed off to the public in the last few months.
That has today gone back to the way it was before lockdown when you can pick up clothes, shoes and items to decorate your home in addition to your groceries.
While certain homeware and beauty items have remained open across all supermarkets in the midst of the current level 5 restrictions, today, May 17, will mark a return of all fashion lines, electrical goods, toys, games and products for the garden.
Areas of these stores where non-essential items are housed have been cordoned off for months now, so a return on today will be welcomed across the board.
When the Level Five lockdown began, all retailers were forced to only sell essential items such as food and drink.
This caused the loss of the famous Lidl "middle aisle".
Aldi's non-essential Specialbuys / middle-aisle promotions are also back.
Elsewhere, IKEA will reopen its stores in Ballymun and Carrickmines in Dublin after almost five months of closure.
The Swedish homeware giant said safety measures will include a new traffic light system to allow a limited numbers of customers entry into the store and social distance wardens.
Hairdressers, barbers, and non-essential retail outlets like Penneys and JD Sports re-opened on an appointment basis last week.
Around 275,000 people booked Penneys appointments last week and the “mass reopening” today is expected to lead to a spending frenzy.
