Barnegat-Area Businesses Brace For Impact As Coronavirus Hits NJ

BARNEGAT, NJ — Businesses across New Jersey, including Barnegat and Manahawkin, are closing and adjusting as the novel coronavirus spreads across the state.

On Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that all movie theaters, performing arts centers, gyms and casinos in New Jersey must immediately close in an attempt to "flatten the curve of new cases" and avoid overwhelming health care systems. It's not clear when these businesses will be allowed to reopen. READ MORE: Restaurants, Theaters In NJ To Shut Due To Coronavirus

The order also requires all "non-essential" retail, recreational and entertainment-based businesses to cease daily operations from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Restaurants can only offer delivery and/or takeout, both during daytime hours and after 8 p.m.

"Essential" businesses which are necessary for the public's health, safety, and welfare — such as grocery stores, pharmacies, medical offices and gas stations — can remain open past 8 p.m.

The decision comes as many businesses throughout New Jersey report being hit hard by the coronavirus' arrival in the Garden State.

According to a survey conducted by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association from March 13 to 15, most respondents said they will need to cut costs due to coronavirus-related hardships, including a reduction of staff, hours and benefits.

"The concerns of our members are extremely clear during this unprecedented time," NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka said. "They are highly concerned about the overall stability of their businesses and the welfare of their employees."

Are you a business owner or employee in southern Ocean County? Let us know how the coronavirus has been affecting your life. Send emails to josh.bakan@patch.com.

CORONAVIRUS: BUSINESS IMPACTS IN THE BARNEGAT AREA

There are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Barnegat and Manahawkin. But many businesses have adjusted to help limit human contact and slow the spread of the disease.

The Southern Ocean Chamber of Commerce created a list of member restaurants, culinary establishments and markets who made changes:

• A Sweet Memory, curbside pickup and home delivery
• Applebee’s, car-side to go, pickup inside
• Bagels & Beyond, home delivery
• Baked on the Beach, call for details
• Big Barlow BBQ, open Friday to Sunday, delivery available on GrubHub, main meats and sides only
• Black Whale Bar, curbside pickup, call to place order
• Bubbakoo’s Burritos, pickup and delivery only, find on GrubHub and DoorDash
• Buckalew’s Restaurant, curbside pickup, delivery available — Spray Beach, Holgate
• Chicken or the Egg, takeout only
• Cluckin Crabs, curbside pickup and home delivery, place order online or on the app
• Coffee Bouteaque, The, delivery available for coffee beans and more
• Country Kettle Chowda, online orders with delivery, curbside pickup available
• Cuisine on the Green, entire menu available for takeout, including lunch specials
• Delaware Ave Oyster House, full menu available for pickup and delivery; spirits, wine, beer and growlers available for carryout
• Delights Artisan Café, curbside pickup, delivery available via DoorDash and GrubHub
• Grapevine, The, open regular hours for pickup and delivery, order online
• Happy Habits, open for takeout, call ahead
• Hotel LBI, living room menu available, packaged goods of wine and beer available
• Jacks’ NYC Bagels, takeout or delivery, order online
• Jersey Charm, order online
• Joey’s Pizza & Pasta, takeout and delivery, opens Thursday
• Kate & Ally’s, pickup and curbside service available for to-go dinners
• Kostas Grill, full menu available for takeout, order by 7:30 p.m.
• La Bamba Mexican Restaurant, takeout only
• Lefty’s Tavern, curbside and pickup available; gift card promotion: 20-percent bonus. Buy $25, get $30. Buy $50, get $60.
• Local Market Kitchen, delivery available on Long Beach Island with a select menu, grab-and-go in Manahawkin available for pickup
• Mainland Holiday Inn, call to preorder takeout
• McDonald's, Little Egg Harbor, takeout and drive-thru only, order with McDonald's app
• Mud City Crab House, pickup and delivery
• Murphy’s Market, open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Old Causeway Steak & Oyster House, open for pickup or local deliver; call main number or text to 609-713-4197
• Pangaea Naturals Health Food, open
• Scojo’s Restaurant, takeout and curbside pickup
• Shop Rite, open, shop from home and pickup
• Smallcakes LBI, call to place order or message on Facebook; free deliver with minimum order; retail hours 12-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
• Sweet Jenny’s, takeout 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., pickup and curbside available
• Tasty Cheesecakes, call in order for curbside pickup, find on GrubHub and DoorDash
• TGI Fridays, open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., takeout or curbside, online order or call in
• Union Market, takeout, curbside and home delivery available in a 15-mile radius, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The WooHoo, online orders available, curbside pickup

With schools closed throughout New Jersey, some local businesses and organizations are stepping up to help children in need of meals.

Rays New York Pizza: "Here at Ray's, we have been taking extra precautionary measures to assure we make a safe and clean environment to serve you stress free. We are also wanting to help families of students who need the extra help while out of school that need lunches for their children. Whether due to low income, or hard working parents We would like to offer your kids two slices of pizza with a can of soda or water for free Monday - Fridays from 11-2."

Stafford Recreation: "Stafford Recreation would like to remind everyone that thanks to the hard work and dedication of Eagle Scout Parker Petty, Stafford Township is home to three Little Free Food Pantries. They are located at the Bay Avenue Community Center, Heritage Park and Beach Avenue Park. If you happen to have an over abundance of non perishable food items and can help your neighbors and those less fortunate out, please consider stopping by and replenishing them."

Trident Fitness & Performance: the gym distributed bagged lunched to people in need. "Today, we are immensely grateful to our amazing member family, who came together over the weekend to shop for, assemble, distribute and deliver hundreds of bagged breakfast and lunches for our local southern Ocean County families in need."

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