ERIE REOPENS
Outdoor businesses thriving as county goes green
Erie County has flipped to the green phase of the state reopening plan, the final county in Western Pennsylvania to do so after a recent spike in COVID-19 cases. But it’s business as usual for many restaurants and shops, at least those with outdoor offerings.
“We’ve already been open about three weeks now,” said Rob Orelski, owner of Port Erie Sports, a company that rents water sports equipment. Mr. Orelski said this has been the strongest start to a summer in all of his 14 seasons running the company, and on Friday a steady stream of customers lined up to pick up life jackets and rent jet skis, with plenty of people already out racing over the surface of the lake.
The nearby Americana-style and family owned Sloppy Duck Saloon has also been open for several weeks for takeout and outdoor seating. The restaurant began welcoming customers Friday for socially distanced indoor seating as well.
“We had to get creative, really reinvent ourselves,” said owner Dave Litz, explaining that he’d had to construct barriers and special seating to help keep diners safe. The restaurant, like many others in the area, opened for takeout in April and began selling mixed drinks to go.
Mr. Litz also said applications for service jobs at the restaurant were extremely low this year, which he attributed to the federal additional $600 per week in unemployment benefits. Currently the saloon is open only five days a week due to a staffing shortage.
“We’re still the place you go when you want to party with your parents,” Mr. Litz added.
Or your aunt. Rose Hill, 93, arrived at the Sloppy Duck shortly after the restaurant opened Friday with her niece. It was her first outing from her senior community in the months since COVID-19 struck. (Visitation at nursing homes remains under restriction.)
“I was ready to run away from home,” said Ms. Hill, a self -described rebel. “At this point I’m going to have visitors whether I’m allowed or not,” she said.
Erie remains a popular destination for Pittsburghers and Western Pennsylvanians due to its water sports and lakeshore attractions. Some, including the Erie Maritime Museum, are remaining closed even during the green phase. But shopping centers and restaurants have been bustling for some time now, and Friday only somewhat increased their traffic.
At Presque Isle State Park, families frolicked on the beach and in
the shallows. Parts of the shoreline were full but not overflowing, with different social groups maintaining distance.
“Quarantine was really hard on the kids,” said Katie Vance, who was visiting Erie for the weekend with her husband, a hospice nurse, and two young children. Ms. Vance lives in Vandergrift and honeymooned in Erie 10 years ago. She said her family typically visits the lake several times each summer.
“Getting outside has been the biggest help to our sanity,” she said. She has chosen to home-school her children next year — Ms. Vance studied elementary and special education in college — and all are keeping active by maintaining a vegetable garden at home.
Also on the water, Pat Hanlin, 70, was preparing his boat in the Bay Harbor Marina for the summer by replacing a refrigerator.
“Gotta keep the beer cool,” he joked aboard the My Turn, so named after he and his wife divorced. Mr. Hanlin recounted heading to Ohio for liquor and beer and to eat in restaurants during the quarantine. The marina, which docks more than 250 boats, provides social fabric for the area, as many owners regularly gather for themed parties and get-togethers.
Friday marked another notch on the return to normalcy for the marina, with a Polish-themed festival kicking off in the early evening.