Businesses Eagerly Reopen As Others Take A Phased Approach
Gov. Kay Ivey allowed more Alabama businesses to reopen Monday, including restaurants, bars, and salons. But the definition of “open” varied widely, depending on the establishment.
Jimmy Shallow, a barber at Crestwood’s Birmingham House of Cuts, did a “soft opening” Monday, scheduling three clients per day for now. He’s taking note of how long it takes to sanitize equipment in-between haircuts. Customers also must sign a waiver indicating they assume any risks associated with coronavirus.
Kevin Burke, owner of Phase Gym in Birmingham reopened as well with a number of safety precautions. He’s limiting the number of people in the gym and regularly sanitizing equipment. His staff must wear masks at all times.
“Our primary goal and objective is to make sure that people are safe and that they feel safe as they’re working out and training,” he said.
Burke has spent the past few months training clients online and says he’ll continue to do so for those who aren’t quite ready to venture out. He’s dedicating a room in his gym for workouts over video conference. Overall, he said, many of his clients were eager to return.
“As soon as the governor made the announcement, we started getting phone calls and text messages before we could even send anything out saying what it was that the gym was going to look like in this new world,” Burke said.
The YMCA of Greater Birmingham will not reopen yet. CEO and President Dan Piles says he’s heeding Friday’s recommendation from the Jefferson County Health Officer to refrain from having public gatherings of 10 or more people.
Some restaurants, such as Golden Rule in Irondale, are eager to open their dining rooms to customers again. But staff there said they were surprised by the governor’s announcement Friday and needed a few more days to prepare. Other popular spots along Birmingham’s Highway 78, including Hamburger Heaven and The Filling Station, remained take-out only.
Multiple restaurant owners said dine-in services won’t yet cover the cost of rehiring a full staff. The seating requirements will decrease their capacity, and even then, they aren’t confident customers will take the risk. In addition, some workers are earning more through unemployment benefits than what business owners can afford to pay.
Birmingham’s beer drinkers may have more to celebrate. Avondale Brewing, Good People Brewing, and Birmingham District Brewing all opened their taprooms, even as many others decided to stick with to-go service for now.
A lawsuit tries to block the Trump administration’s efforts to merge personal data
A class action lawsuit argues that the administration's efforts to combine databases of personal information on Americans violates privacy laws and the Constitution.
Here’s what a shutdown means for Smithsonian museums, memorials and the zoo
History tells us visitors will likely find shuttered doors at major cultural institutions. But they will also find plenty of alternatives.
‘I can’t stop DJing,’ Mark Ronson says — never mind the back pain
Ronson's memoir, Night People, is a love letter to late-night 1990s New York City. Ronson would go on to produce music for Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and other pop superstars.
Pasta meals from Trader Joe’s and Walmart may be linked to a deadly listeria outbreak
The USDA says the precooked pasta products, sold at Trader Joe's and Walmart, could be connected to a nationwide listeria outbreak that has killed four people and sickened at least 20 others.
Spotify’s Daniel Ek announces that he’ll step aside as CEO
The founder of the world's biggest music streaming service says he'll remain at the company as Executive Chairman, and will be replaced by two co-CEOs.
With ‘drug boat’ strikes, Trump leans into war on terror tactic against cartels
The administration's approach to drug cartels relies — at least in part — on a blueprint for military strikes that mirror those waged during the global war on terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.