If by Rosh Chodesh Kisleiv the rains did not come, Bais Din would decree 3 public fasts. They started fasting in the morning and were permitted to do work, take baths, smear oils, wear shoes and have marital relations.

Taanis 1:6

If these fasts pass and rain still didn’t come, Bais Din would decree another 3 fasts on the public. They started fasting from the evening and were prohibited to do work, take baths smear oils, wear shoes and have marital relations. They even closed the bath houses.

If these fasts also pass and rain still didn’t come, Bais Din decrees another 7 fasts.

On these last 7 they would blow the shofar and close the stores. On Mondays they would open the food stores toward evening and on Thursday they would keep the food stores open all day so people could shop for Shabbos.