Michigan Reopens

MICHIGAN... GETTING READY FOR A'RETURN TO NORMAL'...GOVERNOR WHITMER ANNOUCNINGTODAY THAT THE STATE WILL ENDMOST COVID-19RESTRICTIONS... EFFECTIVE NEXTTUESDAY, JUNE 22nd.THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THEGOVERNOR COMES AS THE STATE'SCASE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO REMAINLOW AND VACCINATION NUMBERSCONTINUE TO RISE.

SO WHAT DOESTHIS ALL MEAN?STARTING TUESDAY BOTH INDOORAND OUTDOOR SETTINGS WILLINCREASE CAPCITY TO ONE HUDNREDPERCENT AND RESIDENTS WILL NOLONGER BE REQUIRED TO WEAR AMASK.B OTH FULLY VACCINATEDAND UNVACCINATEDINDIVIDUALS WILL NO LONGER NEEDTO WEAR A FACE- COVERING INDOORSAND RESTAURANTS AND BARS CANOPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY.IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MINDTHATINDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES CAN STILLASK PEOPLE TO WEAR A MASKON THEIR PROPERTY.

THIS TIMELINEIS MORE THAN A WEEK BEFORE THEJULY 1ST DATE THAT THEGOVERNOR HAD SET FOR EASING THEFINAL ROUND OF RESTRICTIONS.SOME RESTAURANTS GEARING UP TORE OPEN AT FULLCAPACITY,.BUT THE NEWS IS BITTER SWEET.FOX 17 JULIE DUMNIRE JOINS USLIVE IN GRAND RAPIDS, WITHREACTION FROM SOME BUSINESSOWNRSE.GUYS I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS HEREAT CHARLEES PUB ON PLAINFIELD INTHE WINTER AND THEY STILL HADLOYAL CUSTOMERS HERE .

OUTSIDEINTHE FREEZING COLD.

EXCITED TOHAVE FOLKS BACK INSIDE FORSURE.BUT A RESTAUARNTOWNER I SPOKE TOO IN CEDARRISPNGS SAYS HES HAPPY WITH THEDECISION TO ALLOW FULL CAPACITYAGAIN.TBU THEY WILL STILL BECLOSED MONDAY.NATS CARS ON CEDAR SPRINGS MAINSTREET, YOULL FIND THE RED BIRDBISTROTHE RESTAURANTI S CELEBRATINGITS 2YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BEING OPNEIN AFEW WEEKSA.ND ALMOST 18 MONTHSOF THOSE TWO YEARS.SPENT.INA PANDEMIC.

Scott Arp Co-OwnerRed Bird Bistro12:56:50 "Really, reallytough," THEYP USHED THROUGH.12:58:16 Scott "I'm going tobe optimistic, and begrateful for what we have whenwe get it,"IN JANUARY, CO- OWNER JODY ARPTOLD US 25% CAPACITYRESTRICTIONS MADE MKIANG A BUCKIMPOSSIBLE.

THEY DIDN'T HAVEENOUGH BUSINESS TO HIRE BACK THEFULL STAFF.1:00:15 "I have only 10 ofabout 35 staffersworking right now," ONW, THEYFACE THE OPPOSITEPROBLEM.

12:57:19 "Thehardest part right now isfinding workers right now,"OPENING UP AT FULL CAP WOULDBE NICE.

IF JODY'S HUSBAND ANDTHEOTHER CO-OWNER OF THE RED BIRD,SCOTT, HAD THE STAFF TO DO IT.12:57:32 Scott arp co-owner"We' renot going to bring all ofour tablesdown.

We don't have the staff tohandle afull dining room," CLOSEDMONDAYS, UNTIL FUTRHERNOTICE.

SCOTT SAYS.WHITMERSANNOUNCEMENT, is GOOD NEWS.12:57:16 "We have a banquethall upstairs, itw ouldbe nice to start using that alittle bit,"IT JUST.MAKE SNO DIFFERENCE.FORHIS BUSINESS.

AT THE MOMENT12:58:31 "Most of the time, I'mtoo busy to think abouti t,"IM GONNA GO AHEA DAND SAY THISTOO FOR EVERYONE, IVESPOKEN TO MULTIPLE RESTAURA NTOWNERS WHO SAY JUST BC THEY CANOPEN AT FULL CAPACITY DOESNTMEAN THEY WILL, THEY AGAIN, LIKERED BIRD, DONTHAVE THE STAFF..THEYRE ASKINGEVERYONE TO BE PATIENT AND KINDWHILE NAVIGATING THIS NEWESTCHANGE.LIVE INGR J DFOX 17 NEWSTHE GRAND RAPIDS CHAMBER IS ONEOF MANY ORGANIZATIONS'CELEBRATING' THE LIFTING OF ALLRESTRICTIONS.IN A STATEMENT- THE PRESIDENTAND C-E-O RICK BAKER SAYS"After 15-months of uncertaintyand fear, businesses are finallyon the other side of thispandemic and can begin operatingat theirnormal revenue levels." HE WENTON TO SAY:"Our members have been ready toreopentheir gathering spaces, venues,movie theatres, restaurants,breweries, and all theplaces that people cometogether... tocreate memories and celebratelife'smoments."