Mathis Brothers Indio showroom closed again after short reopening as ‘essential business’

Mathis Brothers has once again closed the showroom in Indio.

Just one week ago, the store had reopened its doors, inviting customers to shop in person on the showroom floor. The store had implemented new health precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the safety measures involved temperature screenings and health-related questions.

The problem: the county and the company saw things differently. Last week, a Mathis Brothers manager told News Channel 3 the store is an 'essential' business, exempt from the state stay-at-home order.

"We’re open under the transportation services and commercial facility sector and we provide mattresses, adjustable bases-- we provide lift chairs and home offices for customers who are at home having to do all their businesses at home," manager Audrey Rodriguez said last week.

A Riverside County health spokesperson told News Channel 3 that the showroom is not essential, according to their definition. The spokesperson said while it can function online, its store showroom should not be open.

Prior to the reopening on April 13, the store had been closed for about a month. That closure was in accordance with the county order in March. Now, the showroom is closed again.

Riverside County spokesperson Brooke Federico told News Channel 3's Shelby Nelson that Mathis Brothers store owners voluntarily agreed to close in-person sales as of today.

Deliveries and customer service is still available, according to a store employee.

News Channel 3 is working to find out more and will update this story as new information is available.