As retail stores gear up to begin in-store shopping next week, a Black-owned clothing store in the Bronx is happy to be back. 

The owner of The Corner Still, Frank Farrell, built the store from the ground up 11 years ago. 

While he says the coronavirus pandemic has been a tough time, he says he’s glad to be back open. 

"As a small minority business I’ve struggled anyway prior to this so this just makes it a little bit harder,” said Farrell. 

After closing in mid-March, Farrell tells News 12 that he fell months behind on rent at the store and that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to reopen. 

He says that luckily the management company waived the overdue rent and slashed his monthly rent so he could get back to work. 

"I look forward to actually coming back but I’m a little apprehensive because I don’t know what the future has in store,” said Farrell. 

The shop offers curated urban wear including hats, sweatshirts and T-shirts. Though the shutdown has thrown off his inventory. 

"I still have coats and long sleeve stuff hanging up so that’s a little dilemma for me,” said Farrell. 

 

He’s busy stocking summer clothes and says he’s also updated his store to include ‘I Can’t Breathe’ masks to support the Black Lives Matter movement. 

"People said they’re coming back, people are happy that I’m back. I just got a wait and see,” said Farrell. 

While Farrell once thought he may need to close the store forever, he’s now back open and plans to give out free masks to customers who don’t have them.