Main Line Businesses React To PA's New Coronavirus Restrictions
MAIN LINE, PA — New restrictions that aim to mitigate the spread of coronavirus in Pennsylvania go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Gov. Tom Wolf announced details of the new restrictions Thursday, which include a ban on indoor dining, the closure of gyms, and limits on indoor gatherings.
Businesses across the state are preparing for and reacting to these new restrictions, which at this point are slated to be lifted on Jan. 4.
Patch reached out to businesses on the Main Line to see how they feel and plan to navigate the new restrictions.
>>>Wolf Puts Pennsylvania 'On Pause' Through Jan. 4: What To Know<<<
In Havertown, the Kelly Center for Music, Arts and Community has had to postpone and cancel numerous upcoming performances.
"It is heartbreaking for us to have to cancel our holiday lineup of shows on the Kelly Center stage," said Tom Kelly, Chairman and Executive Director of the Kelly Center for Music, Arts and Community.
The center was hosting shows indoors with a 50 percent capacity visit.
But with indoor gatherings limited to just 10 people, that is not possible.
"Several venues in the area have already closed forever," Kelly said. "Thankfully Kelly Music for Life has some supporters who have been helping us to stay afloat through this very difficult time."
Despite the impact on the performance industry, Kelly said the center is supportive of efforts to keep the public safe.
Tickets for Kelly Music for Life shows will be honored at the scheduled dates, which are being established now.
Indoor dining once again is being suspended statewide. Nearby in Philadelphia, indoor dining was banned as of 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20.
Now, Main Line eateries are feeling the squeeze of no indoor dining.
Bryn Mawr's Bodega by La Cabra said while the situation is not ideal, there is a something to take solace in.
"Unlike the shutdown in the spring, we already have a game plan in place for such events," a representative told Patch. "The way we see it, we did this before we can do it again. A second silver lining is we have an end date to look forward to (whether the date remains the same or not)."
Bodega's offerings are easily packaged for pick-up to take back home to enjoy.
But still, the Bodega crew would much rather see their patron's faces.
"Although we love to see the faces of our friends while they're enjoying a brisket sandwich, we know they will be just as happy eating our food and drinking our beer in the comfort of their own home."
Takeout will be available at Bodega from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through and from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
"It makes sense to be mad and get angry at the new restrictions, in fact, it is easily understandable to be," Bodega's representative said. "But getting upset will not change the opticals in front of us, as a company we have decided to put our head down and keep working as hard as we can. We love serving great beer and food, it's our passion, that is what we are going to continue to do."
In Ardmore, Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant will shift to a full takeout and curbside pickup model. All 11 Iron Hill locations will also shift to this model.
Iron Hill COO Joe Kopke said in addition to the pickup options, diners can get their meals delivered for free.
To do so, order your meals on Iron Hill's website and use the promo code "freedelivery" when checking out.
Additionally, Iron Hill is launching a new takeaway beer, offering 4-packs of beers for just $45.
One of Ardmore's most luxurious fitness centers is planning to keep clients in shape via livestreaming and virtual.
Life Time Fitness Chief Operating Officer Jeff Zwiefel told Patch it will "continue working diligently to help members improve their immune systems and mental wellness through exercise."
However, the fitness center says the gym industry as a whole are being unfairly targeted in these new restrictions.
"We can confidently say Life Time is not contributing to a rise or spread in coronavirus cases, and yet we—along with our industry as a whole—continue to be grouped inappropriately with other industries," Zwiefel said. "We have implemented some of the most robust safety protocols that exist, and they are proving effective at keeping our members and employees safe."
Zwiefel said Life Time Fitness, which operates numerous locations across the country, has only had 10 confirmed positive cases out of more than 305,000 visits to its clubs since they reopened. That figure, Zwiefel said, represents a 0.006 percent positivity rate.
"Our members are telling us every day how thankful they are Life Time is open and how confident they are in the safety protocols we have in place," Zwiefel said. "We will also continue to share our data and educate the government on the importance of overall health and wellbeing in appropriately combating COVID-19."
This article originally appeared on the Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewood Patch
