Reopening Day: Mixed Bag For Businesses From Retail To Restaurant

BRANFORD, CT — In Branford, a small but well-stocked boutique gift shop celebrating its 20th year was open for business and shoppers were delighted.

The downtown areas in a few Shoreline communities were not chockablock with shoppers and diners, though a few eateries had tables set up outside and ‘we’re open,’ and ‘welcome’ signs posted.

An East Haven seaside seafood restaurant that at least some hoped would be open for sit-down dining remained a take-out spot only.

One of New London County’s most popular shopping meccas - for locals and tourist from around the globe - the Olde Mistcik Village, was also very much open for business and meant business when it explained to visitors that masks must be worn inside stores and outside when social distancing was not possible.

A Fairfield athletic goods store that has been doing curbside also opened its door and was, even at 5 p.m. caring for customers.

A barber in Pawcatuck defied state orders and opened for business Wednesday. A local radio station broadcast live from the shop saying what was happening may have been legal under Gov. Ned Lamont’s executive order, but believed his rule unfair, and 11th hour.

Reopening day was a mixed bag.

In Branford

Even as there were few shoppers on the street, Sal Espositio was hopeful. His gift boutique, P.S. Fine Stationers, shop has been shuttered since March 19. Celebrating his 20th year on Main Street in downtown Branford, he'd not only opened Wednesday, he had a little sidewalk sale going on. His shop is bright and filled with gifts, some objects d'art and a light airy aroma of Nest candles in the air. In his surgical mask and with taped-off floor near the cash register, he greeted a reporter and her daughter, and another customer. And then another. "Grateful," is how he described his state of mind on reopening day.

In Mystic

Early Wednesday morning, Olde Mistick Village in Mystic told folks on Facebook, “We cannot wait to see our village come back to life on this beautiful spring day! It has been a long and difficult two months, but we are so thankful to our patrons for their continued support, and to the shops and restaurants that have worked so hard to become certified with the state in order to re-open their doors. See you out there!”

They said they'd be following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to a tee.

This is how it went.

In Fairfield

Eileen Gould said just before she opened Sound Runner in Fairfield for the first time in more than two months to customers that she and staff were excited to “see people inside the store.” At 5 p.m., she was still tied up with customers when Patch checked in.

In Pawcatuck

Meanwhile, a venue that was not allowed to open did anyway, albeit by appointment. And the local chamber of commerce, a state senator, local health department and the town’s First Selectwoman were all at the shop Wednesday morning.

Modern Barber & Shave owner Cat Thibodeau received a lot of support as she chose to defy the governor.

The shop had posted to Facebook that it was told the Ledge Light Health District could shut them down on behalf of the state, but director Stephen Mansfield told Patch that when Monday night Lamont announced his decision to not allow barbers and hair salons, his health department got no heads-up nor direction and said Wednesday morning that it was unclear if he had any authority to shut the business down. But by the end of the day, the health district said it was responsible for enforcing Lamont's orders. Mansfield wrote in a late afternoon statement that as he was waiting for clarification from the state, the health department "did conduct a courtesy inspection" of Modern.

“Our primary responsibility is to protect the public health and assure, to the extent possible, that all possible measures to prevent the spread of disease are being taken in each situation,” Mansfield said. “We were notified that this establishment owner intended to move forward with opening and while we wanted to review health and safety measures with her even as we waited for clarification from the State regarding our authority and mandate to issue a closure order.”

But as was posted on the Ocean Community Facebook page, Ledge Light, state Sen. Heather Somers, and Stonington First Seletwoman Danielle Cheesbrough were on site doing a “courtesy check.”

“LLHD has been going above and beyond for the communities they serve during this challenging time. The voluntary actions taken this morning by LLHD to ensure the safety of a business owner and her customers, are further evidence of that,” Chesebrough said.

“Many of us share in the frustration of business owners and non-profit organizations looking to get back on their feet; however, with the clarification received today from the State, LLHD is now doing what is being required of them. We ask residents, businesses and organizations for their continued patience and civility during this challenging time.”

Mansfield said Ledge Light Health District "will continue our efforts to respond to the changing nature of this pandemic and the decisions made at the state level to support the health and safety of our communities.”

Meanwhile, radio station WBLQ’s host sat in the barber chair for a cut and waxed political on the state’s COVID-19 mitigation orders while doing a Facebook Live.