The sign on the door to the market offered this advice: It is strongly recommended that non-vaccinated shoppers wear masks.

There was no sign at another store.

And a third business presented shoppers with the same sign they have seen for the last 15 months: “Stay six feet apart, please wear face covering.”

Rhode Island officially “reopened” last Friday, when Governor Dan McKee lifted the mask mandate and allowed most businesses and other venues to operate at 100 percent capacity. But the practical application of the governor’s order varies from one business to the next.

Inside Barrington Butchery on Friday, owner Mike McKeever and his team worked mask-free and allowed customers to do the same. Mr. McKeever said he and the other employees were all fully-vaccinated, although they would happily put on a mask if a customer requested.

Mr. McKeever said masks — on or off — have not been much of an issue at his business.

“It’s been good,” he said. “Most people coming in still have their masks on. There’s a little bit of confusion, but most people are just used to it, so they put it on.

“With us, we have to have a mask. Store policy. If you want us to put it on, we put it on. Like I said, everybody’s fully vaccinated here. We’re good to go.”

Mr. McKeever said Barrington Butchery fared well during the pandemic, as many residents spent more time cooking at home. 

“We were lucky enough where people were at home eating, and we could keep our supply going,” he said. “No one here got affected by Covid. We only have four people who work here anyway… we were very lucky.”

Mr. McKeever said he and his team want all their customers to feel comfortable during their shopping experience. 

“If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask,” he said. “Do whatever you have to do. If you want us to put on a mask, we’ll put on a mask.”

A short drive down County Road, at the Dunkin Donuts, there are still signs posted to the doors and windows, preaching the importance of mask-wearing and social distancing. The signs have been there for months.

Inside, the plexiglas barriers that had created a partition between the employees and the customers are gone. Workers said those came down recently. They also said fully vaccinated customers were welcome to not wear a mask, although all employees — vaccinated and unvaccinated — are still required to wear face coverings.

Meanwhile, the dining room at the coffee shop was open, but no one was there. An employee said he might put up a sign to let people know they could enjoy their coffee and doughnuts inside the business now.

At Brickyard Wine and Spirits, owner Chelia Ferraris said she and the other employees were happy to follow the lead of their customers.

“It’s up to us. The CDC said it was OK. The state said it was OK. The town has said it was OK. So I’m leaving it up to the adults that are shopping at the store,” she said. 

And if someone shopping there feels more comfortable with the staff wearing masks: “I’ll put mine on,” Ms. Ferraris said. 

“Some of them are going to wear it all the time, for their own reasons. And I’m fine with that… It’s a little adjusting.”

Ms. Ferraris said she was encouraged by the state’s move to reopen.

“We’re getting there,” she said. “I feel we’re getting there. We’re not 100 percent. But pretty soon it’s going to be as good as it’s going to get.”

At Shell gas station on County Road, the sign on the door offered a reminder to a rule that had been in place for more than a year. It asked people to stay six feet apart and please wear a face covering. The plexiglas shield blocking the customers from the employees was still in place, and the person working at the register was still wearing a mask. He said customers who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks. He added that workers who are fully vaccinated also do not need to wear a mask.

Other businesses also kept the plexiglas partitions in place days after the governor’s announcement. And the town manager’s most recent executive order states that a face mask or cloth face shield is still required in all municipal buildings in Barrington.