While perusing grocery stores, greenhouses and shops, you may have noticed the increase in foot traffic – and an entirely too soon decrease in masking. It’s often misunderstood that the reopening will happen in increments, and not all at once. Lafayette City Court announced guidelines for Phase One of reopening businesses Monday, but what does that entail for public services and gatherings? We’ve got you covered.
Down to business: Restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, malls, gyms, salons, theaters, museums, zoos and bars/breweries are slowly beginning to acclimate. Businesses allowed to reopen must follow guidelines from the state, including following social distancing measures, sustaining sanitation and maintaining a limit of 25 percent occupancy. Lafayette hotspot Red’s is maintaining social distancing of two feet for exercise classes, and has stated that the facility has not been close to capacity since reopening less than a week ago.
Close(d) call: Businesses that rely on closer contact, like spas, amusement and waterparks and tattoo parlors, remain closed, as do stripclubs and arcades. One caveat to the bars and breweries’ reopening: those that do not have food permits must remain closed.
Getting courted: Lafayette City Court’s building will now be open to the public between 8:30-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and until the close of court on Mondays or 5 p.m. – whichever comes first. If you have a traffic ticket, your date has been rescheduled for June with a new date to follow in the mail. Everyone entering the courthouse will require masks. Courthouse staff will also screen residents at the entrance of the city courthouse for symptoms prior to entry.
Staying safe: Some businesses have opted to adapt to the current situation by moving services online. The Lafayette Mom blog’s third annual Bloom baby shower is going online! Moms and moms-to-be can now purchase a virtual pass (plus swag bag) to the event, which boasts more than 40 giveaways worth more than $3,500, here for $35-$75. Some restaurants, like the BBQ powerhouse Johnson’s Boucaniere, are offering limited outdoor seating and even encouraging patrons to bring their own blankets for impromptu picnics.
Got to-go: For those of us wanting to remain as safe as possible, many restaurants are bringing special items back that are available for takeout or on Waitr. CC’s Coffee Houses are now offering their full menu for drive-thru and accept patrons entering cafes as long as they wear a mask. James Beard Award-nominated Spoonbill offers brunch items and cocktails – including mimosa pitchers – for takeout. If you’re looking for a lunch special to add flavor to your WFH-day, Pop’s Poboys has resurrected items like the Breast for Last: Ranch and buttermilk brined breast tenderloins with a butter toasted Sesame Martin’s Bun and dressed with dill pickles, shredded iceberg lettuce, and a special sauce.
And there we have it! All things worth doing take time. As we ease into new versions of our old routines, I hope you stay safe with a to-go cocktail in hand.
