Debenhams store in Foyleside still reopened on Thursday to customers
Smaller traders with entrances from the street had already been due to lift their shutters on Friday.
Debenhams story at Foyleside shopping centre reopened on Thursday three days after other stores across the North were open the public again.
Larger premises like home furniture giant Ikea have been trading with social distancing in place since June 1.
The easing of lockdown restrictions from Friday, June 12, are:
outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people (previous limit was six)
the opening up of the housing market
the opening up of the remainder of the retail market
outdoor training for elite athletes
community centres and places of worship to provide daycare
The Executive is currently reviewing the July 20 date for hotels, caravan parks and guesthouses reopening and possibly bringing this forward to also include bars and restaurants.
Tbis is because hotels in the Republic are due to reopen on June 29, which would put hoteliers in the North at a disadvantage.
Ministers are also reviewing when hairdressers and barbers can open their doors to customers again.
On the news about shops, Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: “All of retail will be open.”
Stormont ministers met on Thursday to discuss the further easing of coronavirus restrictions which have emptied high streets and endangered the livelihoods of many.
The curbs have helped drive down the rate of spread of the virus significantly and now stands between 0.5 and 0.9.
One further person with coronavirus has died, taking the death toll reported by the Department of Health on Thursday to 538.
Four new confirmed cases of the virus brought the total since the outbreak began to 4,822.
Mrs Dodds said the ministerial Executive needed to have an “open and honest” discussion about reducing social distancing to one metre.
Hospitality businesses have been pressing for the change to allow them to make the most of the remainder of this summer’s tourist season.
There are fears if the two metre rule stays in place some bars, hotels and restaurants may have to shut because it would not be economically viable to open to reduced numbers of customers.
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