After months of operating under a stay-at-home order, Governor Murphy has begun to allow New Jersey businesses to open back up. To reduce the potential for a second outbreak of COVID-19, the governor decided to approach reopening in phases. Currently, he allows restaurants to offer outdoor dining as an option. This helps them continue to operate while allowing for social distancing. Also, customers of our Westfield farmers market can now go booth-to-booth to visit vendors.
Westfield Farmers Market
As of May 2nd, our Westfield farmers market opened up for curbside service only. Customers placed their orders and paid online. Then, they picked up their purchases at the Westfield Train Station during normal farmers market hours. To keep things as safe as possible, market staff placed purchases in customers’ cars. This allowed for a completely touch-free exchange. Customers got the fresh meat and produce they desired and businesses continued to operate even during a pandemic. Everybody won.
Beginning June 20th, the market opens its “doors” to allow in-person shopping again. Organizers strongly encourage customers to continue to observe social distancing practices (six feet between you and anyone you don’t live with). If you feel unwell at all, please stay home…for your safety as well as others. They require you to wear a face voering while walking around the market. Expect lines as vendors assist customers one at a time. Instead of picking things up and examining them yourself, ask the vendor to handle the products you’re interested in to reduce potential cross-contamination.
Feeling a little apprehensive about diving right back into a crowd? The market still offers curbside service. Go ahead and place your order online and then pick it up during regular farmers market hours.
Quimby St Events
Just last week, I was talking about how the Downtown Westfield Corporation was going to shut down Quimby St to automotive traffic so that restaurants and businesses could spread out onto the street in an effort to provide enough room for social distancing. Well, this is the first weekend that happens. On Saturday morning, expect to see yoga classes and a CrossFit class taking place right out on Quimby St. Just Bead Yourself hosts a bracelet-making class on the street from 1 pm to 3 pm. In the evening, enjoy a live concert performed by the NJ Workshop for the Arts.
Satsang offers a yoga class on Sunday morning from 10 am to 11 am. (Bring your own mat.) And Kika Stretch Studios hosts a stretching class at noon. Each weekend provides a new experience on Quimby. You’ll need to come to Downtown Westfield for yourself to see what that weekend’s adventure entails.