Shopping event set for downtown
PACIFIC GROVE >> Pacific Grove businesses received a shot in the arm for their upcoming shopping event with the news Friday that Monterey County is expected to drop down into the red tier next week so even more people could participate in an already planned event.
The Pacific Grove Downtown Business Improvement District, the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce and the city of Pacific Grove are jointly sponsoring a March 27 shopping event where participating businesses will be offering incentives for people to gather in the downtown area.
Now that the county is expected to be in the less restrictive red tier, retail store capacity jumps from 25% to 50%, according to the state’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Indoor dining, with restrictions, will also be allowed.
That doesn’t mean there will be any discard of protocols. Participating businesses will be strictly following the latest state and county rules regarding COVID-19 safety precautions. Volunteers will be stationed throughout downtown to provide masks and hand sanitizer as needed while also helping to direct visitors, Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce President Moe Ammar said.
Ammar said many businesses are barely hanging on since the shelter-in-place order went into effect a year ago. One business in the downtown, Grove Nutrition, has closed permanently after 35 years.
On Thursday, there were 16 businesses signed up and by March 27 Ammar expects that figure to climb up to 24. He and the businesses are banking on a good deal of pent-up demand for shopping combined with possibly some disposable income from stimulus checks.
“It’s important to show these businesses that if you want them to stay around, then please spend stimulus checks in downtown Pacific Grove,” Ammar said. “People have the choice of paying down credit-card debt or contributing to our tax base and keep employees working.”
Additional information is available by calling Steve Thomas at 831-920-1693 or visit the event page on Facebook at facebook. com/downtownpacificgrove.