How to Support Westfield Businesses, From Liquor Stores To Books

WESTFIELD, NJ -- After Westfield implemented a youth curfew, and Gov. Phil Murphy placed restrictions on businesses among the coronavirus spread, local businesses (and their employees) have been struggling. The town wants to help them both.

Among the restrictions is that restaurants can only deliver or offer takeout, an attempt to promote social distancing to slow the spread. As of Wednesday afternoon, five people in New Jersey have died from the novel coronavirus, and at least 427 have been infected.

So Westfield has created "Virtual Downtown," which allows residents to order for delivery or buy products online from the town's local businesses, from bookstores to liquor stores.

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Officials have also encouraged residents to purchase gift certificates to local small businesses so they can stay alive financially while customers self-isolate at home.

"Your ongoing support is vital as we work through this temporary new normal," wrote Mayor Shelley Brindle in a recent update. "Please snap some photos of your local patronage and tag us (@TownofWestfield) on Facebook and Instagram so we can continue to spread the word."

Here is a link to Virtual Downtown.

And here, from the Downtown Westfield Corporation, are some local restaurants that deliver. However, the list is constantly being updated. For a complete list, see the link above.

16 Prospect Wine Bar & Bistro, 1958 Cuban Cuisine, Addams Tavern, Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery , Akai Lounge, Boxwood Coffee Roasters, The Brick Oven, Brunella Portuguese Coffee & Deli Buddha Fish, Bovella’s Pastry Shoppe, Casa di Pizza , Cosimos, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Cinnaholic, Cold Stone Creamery, Di Farina Pizzeria, Farinolio Ferraro’s South, Feast Catering, Emack & Bolio's Westfield, Evergreen, Feast Catering & Cafe, Fiamma Wood Fired Pizza, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, FroYo, Hershey's Deli, Hunan Wok III, Inspiration Roll, Jade Garden, Jersey Mike's Subs, Kilwins, Kings Bowl Cafe, Limani Seafood Grill, Manhattan Bagel, Nathan's Famous Hotdog, Old Havana, Ono Bowls, Outta Hand Pizza, Qdoba Mexican Eats, Rockn' Joe Coffeehouse + Bistro, Sichuan Dynasty

Spice Bazaar, Splash of Thai, Sweet Waters Steak House, The Salad House, Tinga Taqueria, Turning Point, Vicki's Diner, Westfield Seafood, Westfield Station Cafe

Experts say that the novel coronavirus, because it's new, is more lethal and much harder to treat than the flu.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

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