A closed highway and a 'mad dash:' Here's how one New Jersey Main St. is preparing to reopen
Somerville, New Jersey has enjoyed a rising tide in recent years, but the coronavirus pandemic has threatened to derail the town's development.
Somerville's Division St., a usually bustling pedestrian street, pictured from Main Street. In the front of the image is a sign for Somerville's weekly cruise nights, which are "on hiatus due to Covid-19." June 9, 2020.Main Street is usually bustling, drawing crowds of thousands through the spring and summer with events like the annual Central Jersey Jazz Festival and weekly cruise nights, when classic cars line the street.
Iris Frank, co-owner of Village Brewing, cited the "comeback" of the town as "the reason why we picked Somerville" a little over a year ago when she and her brother opened the brewery. Now, Businesses deemed nonessential have already faced more than 12 weeks of closure and expect more weeks ahead of low revenue as stores just partially reopen to comply with social distancing requirements. As New Jersey finally paves a path forward, business owners and local officials are gleaning lessons from other states that have already reopened on how to do so safely while balancing the economic needs of the community.Village Brewing in Somerville, New Jersey, closed on March 16.
In early June, Murphy announced that the state will allow outdoor dining and for retailers to reopen with 50% capacitySomerville's Main Street on June 2. A sign posted to the lamp post from the Downtown Somerville Alliance advertises curbside pickup and takeout.The long-term economic effects of the coronavirus restrictions remain unclear. So much is unknown about the virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads, all of which could impact how states ease restrictions.
She's been looking at restaurants and eateries in places like Texas and Georgia that have been allowed to reopen, she said, and looking for smart ways to reduce the risk of infection. Village Brewing has a massive 17,000-square-foot, two-floor space, which will help with social distancing, she said, but one thing she's seen from other states is that outdoor space is key to reopening.
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