Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | June 8, 2020 | wbjournal.com I n normal times, running a restaurant might not seem like the kind of job requiring keeping a constant eye on the news. But these are not normal times, and Brendan O'Connor, owner of O'Con- nor's Restaurant and Bar in Worcester, is watching closely for signs of what's around the corner. He's seen national polls suggesting about half of regular restaurant-goers are ready to dine out again. at works for him, since O'Con- nor's has removed half its tables to make space for social distancing once the state allows restaurants to reopen their dining areas. "We're big enough to space out for what we will need going for the new normal," O'Connor said. Over the past three months, the Irish restaurant has deep-cleaned, repainted, and added screens as physical barriers to the spread of COVID-19. Like many food service establishments in Central Massachusetts, it has been doing solid business offering curbside pickup. O'Connor said that has given his staff and his customers practice with procedures continuing when sit-down dining resumes. So far, he said, dinners have been ex- tremely understanding about following safety guidelines. If anyone has trouble doing that – say, refusing to wear a mask while entering the restaurant and walking past other diners to a table – they won't be welcome in the establishment. "If you're being a jerk, you've got to stay at home," O'Connor said. "It's about everybody else. It's about your mother, your father." Under the Massachusetts state reopen- ing plan, restaurant dining areas are part of Phase 2, which could begin reopening on June 8 at the earliest. Under Phase 1, certain construction, manufacturing, and other activity began on May 18, while other businesses in- cluding hair salons were allowed to open on May 25. As businesses around Central Massa- chusetts reopen aer being shut down for more than two months, their staffs and their customers are adjusting to new regulations and policies, as the compa- nies try to maximize their revenue while limiting the risk of further spread of coronavirus, all while hoping customers remain calm about the restrictions. Small staff Mary Ream, owner of Profiles Hair Salon in Fitchburg, said her business opened at well under its usual full capac- ity on May 26, aer the Memorial Day holiday. Only three hairdressers are currently working there. e nail salon part of the business is not allowed to open until Phase 2. For now, Ream said, the hairdressers are typically only seeing one client at a time, with a separate room to process another person. Everyone has to wear masks, and there's a handwashing station available for clients before they sit down. Ream said the business normally books appointments in advance rather than doing walk-in business anyway, and she's posted a sign on the door making BY LIVIA GERSHON Special to the Worcester Business Journal e new normal Businesses around Central Massachusetts are reopening with new rules for employees and customers Law firm Bowditch & Dewey is posting these signs around its office. Robert Cox, managing partner of Bowditch & Dewey PHOTO/COURTESY OF BOWDITCH & DEWEY

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