New Glen Rock Committee Hopes To 'Restart' Restaurants, Retail

GLEN ROCK, NJ — As restaurants, bars and retail shops ready to open across the state, Glen Rock's Looking Forward Committee has created a campaign to help.

The newly formed committee, tasked with handling the future of Glen Rock's local economy post-coronavirus, has released the guidelines and plans for the Restart Glen Rock program. Restart is optional to all businesses, and is not required to open on Monday.

According to committee co-chair Mary Barchetto, the program has distilled down guidelines from various executive orders, and has worked to create shared outdoor eating areas in town.

The borough will open an outdoor dining room in the parking lot behind the galleria, according to Barchetto, as well as a common picnic area from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. At these locations, the borough will handle sanitization of the dining area.

No restaurants will serve directly to these places. Rather, patrons can bring their takeout orders there, as well as BYOB beverages.

Glen Rock has also expanded the use of sidewalks for both dining and retail.

Restaurants will be allowed to place some tables on sidewalks, as long as they follow guidelines set out by the borough. If they wish to use outdoor space they aren't currently approved for, they'll need to file an outdoor dining application.

The outdoor dining room guidelines, as listed on the application, include:

• Provide disposable menus, menus that can be sanitized between uses, or a “no-touch”
  option (e.g., menu board, electronic menu)
• No more than 6 customers per table
• Alcohol served on premises must arrive in a closed container
• No pets
• No smoking
• Sanitize tables, chairs, and any other shared items (menus, condiments, pens) between customers
• Adhere to the other requirements of Executive Directive No. 20-014

The Restart Glen Rock program has also set out a list of guidelines. A business participating in the program will place a sticker indicating their participation somewhere on the premises.

Barchetto says the participation in the program doesn't determine whether a business is allowed to open, rather, it indicates that the business is "playing it safe".

The guidelines, which were created by Barchetto, co-chair Amy Martin, and council member Teresa Gilbreath, are as follows.

• Determine patron capacity based on safe-social distancing requirements and physical layout
• Method for monitoring patron entrance to maintain capacity – monitor near entrance or some version of “Come on in/Please wait a moment” sign
• Follow CDC cleaning protocols - Frequent sanitization of frequent/common touch points
• Masks - for employees and patrons -except for when eating or drinking
• 6 feet separation between customers - barriers (such as plexiglass) where closer contact (less than 6 feet) for longer periods is required
• Mark floor inside for lines
• Mark sidewalk outside for lines
• Implement contactless payment when possible
• General COVID-19 awareness training for employees
• Posted signage required at entrance:
• Masks required
• Social distancing requirements being followed
• Patron capacity

Gov. Phil Murphy said earlier this month bars and restaurants can open for outdoor dining beginning Monday at 6 a.m. Employees of the establishments will have to wear masks, as will patrons who wish to go inside at any point.

Tables will be placed 6-feet apart, and parties will be limited to a maximum of eight people.

To read more on what to expect when you're dining out, click here: Here's What To Do At NJ Bars, Restaurants Under Coronavirus Rule