UPDATED: What Can Reopen This Week In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy last week announced that playgrounds and amusement parks can reopen Thursday. Malls, such as Bergen County's Paramus Park Mall and the Short Hills Mall, were allowed to open Monday (check the mall websites to be sure of hours and dates).

While states like Texas and Florida have had to re-close certain businesses and facilities in the last week due to record-topping coronavirus spikes — the governor of Texas ordered all bars to close there on Friday — the numbers are still declining in New Jersey, for now.

On Friday, Gov. Murphy announced 524 additional coronavirus cases and 44 more deaths in the previous 24 hours, bringing the totals statewide to 170,584 cases and 13,060 confirmed deaths.

The virus is clearly still spreading, but new cases have declined steadily since the state's most deadly day, April 30, when 460 New Jerseyans had been lost to the virus in 24 hours, or one person every three minutes.

Murphy has said that facilities and businesses in the state must reopen carefully, in phases, to prevent spikes like in other states that reopened earlier.

Murphy said that playgrounds, malls, and casinos could reopen this week.

Indoor dining originally was to be allowed to open at 25 percent capacity on Thursday, but Murphy walked back that allowance on Monday, saying crowded bar/restaurants were helping spread the virus. Thus, indoor dining is postponed.

Local business owners and members of business organizations commented over the weekend about the reopenings.

Westfield businesses respond

Bob Zuckerman, who is president of Downtown New Jersey and the executive director of Downtown Westfield, said Friday, “We are thrilled to see our businesses opening up again. We handled COVID-19 the right way here in New Jersey by using data and science to drive our decision-making. While it’s been a rough few months for many of our businesses, we couldn’t be happier that most of them are getting back on their feet."

Zuckerman said that Downtown Westfield has been handing out “Welcome back bags” with hand sanitizers and masks inside each bag, to patrons of local businesses.

Several restaurants were asked Friday, while the state was still planning to allow indoor dining at reduced capacity if they planned to reopen for limited indoor dining.

Several they said they weren't ready, and they would continue offering outdoor dining, delivery, and pickup.

Lillian Pein, an owner of Akai Lounge, said, "We continue to have outdoor seating, curbside, and contact-free delivery. Our approach to indoor dining is to wait and see at this point. We hope to open indoor dining soon and can’t wait to see our customers again."

Burim Regjaj, who runs Outta Hand Pizza, said Friday, "I am not planning to open indoor dinning. I am concerned that despite guidelines there is still a large risk of exposure to covid indoors. Safety of my staff is crucial. Safety of my customers is paramount. I am blessed to be in position to be cautious and delay indoor opening. I sympathize with other businesses that may not have an alternative." Regjaj said he will continue delivery and pickup service.

Annette Colbertaldo, who co-owns Farinolio, a Tuscan bakery cafe on East Broad Street downtown, was ready to reopen for limited indoor dining Thursday. Now that plans have changed, she will continue offering pickup service and delivery.

On Monday night, after the governor pulled back on indoor dining, Mayor Shelley Brindle said on Facebook, "While I’m incredibly disappointed for our restaurants who so desperately need the business that indoor expansion would allow, I’m even more disappointed in the members of the public across the country who blatantly disregard any and all guidance on how to stop the spread of this insidious virus."

She had said in a previous nightly update that with reopenings across the country, "I fully expect to see a small uptick in cases but am confident we can manage it if we continue to practice what has proven to be effective: Wash your hands frequently, stay outside and six feet apart as much as possible when interacting with others, and WEAR A FACE COVERING. I have received numerous emails from residents who are concerned about the number of people who are not wearing face coverings downtown."

What about playgrounds?

Westfield Brindle said in her June 23 update to watch for more specific guidance. To read the mayor's updates, click here.

What about the malls?

Paramus Park Mall in Paramus said it will reopen Monday.

The Short Hills Mall will open starting Monday, within guidelines.

The Simon company has been posting updates on its mall websites, like this one for Newport Centre in Jersey City, about the stores at the mall reopening. Check the website for updates.

Some malls in New Jersey have said that children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Other updates

To read about Westfield business initiatives, Quimby Street, and outdoor dining, click here.

For other recent coronavirus updates and statistics, click here.

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