Businesses Open With Safety Protocols After 'Stressful' 3 Months

NORTH FORK, NY — As the Long Island economy saw a burst of life Wednesday, with Phase 2 of the economy's reopening plan kicking off and outdoor dining and retail shops, as well as hair dressers and barbers all open again, North Fork business owners spoke to Patch and shared their thoughts.

Marc LaMaina, owner of the Lucharitos locations in Greenport, Aquebogue and a new Center Moriches spot, said he was "glad to be opening to outdoor seating where we can."

The Aquebogue and Center Moriches locations have some great outdoor spaces, he said.

"This has been a stressful three months, to say the least," LaMaina said. "We have expended a lot of energy and time in trying to stay ahead of the curve with the safety of our team and guests our first priority. It’s not easy. But we are pushing along. And the sun is out today and we are rocking and rolling!"

Sharon Sailor, owner of Front Street Station in Greenport, said she was feeling overwhelmed.

"There are many rules, all of which we were implementing on our own," she said. "We have been maintaining a safe, healthy environment all along. It’s just when the state issues 13 pages of guidelines, you get nervous!"

Front Street Station is not yet offering waitress service; the menu is still take out, but guests can dine outside and delivery is always an option.

"To be candid, some of the rules seem great in a bubble. For example, you can take your mask off to eat, but then are required to wear it while walking to the table — but at the table it can be off. That seems odd. But I'm happy we are progressing and we are grateful to be able to have survived and have the support of our patrons and the community."

Restaurant owners, she added, "are all overworked, overwhelmed" and facing staffing shortages as some workers choose to stay home and collect unemployment.

Rena and Jason Wilhelm, who own The Weathered Barn in Greenport, also were back in business on Wednesday.

"We opened our doors to customers today for the first time since March 16 with gratitude and a little trepidation," Rena said.

She added that they have posted guidelines in the shop that include the required mask, distancing and maximum capacity limits.

"We also have sneeze guards up, and one of our customers said they were just as aesthetically pleasing as our store — and that it didn't surprise her," she said.

In addition, Rena said, hand sanitizer is available in several areas, and there are floor stickers to remind individuals to respect distancing guidelines.

"Both Jason and I are immune compromised so we are being extremely careful," Rena said. "However, it is difficult to run business as usual and be extra vigilant about hand washing and sanitizing. I get distracted extremely easily and now have to spend extra energy on taking my time. I am usually running around doing several tasks at once and when it was just Jason and I in the store we were a little looser in our behavior. We just feel like we are expending a lot of mental energy on behaviors we are not used to," she said.

The past months, she said, have been mentally, emotionally, and financially stressful.

And, Rena added: "The success of our reopening will largely depend on customer behavior, so we really hope that the general public will follow the village guidelines. This isn't the time to be lax or we can expect to see spikes in COVID cases again. So while we smile and are so happy about being open, the looming notion of a second wave weighs heavily on our minds."