Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
BACK IN BUSINESS
Customers hungry, owners hopeful as Broward reopens
After weeks in lockdown, diners and malls and salons across Broward County finally opened for business Monday.
South Floridians ventured out from their homes for a haircut or a pastry or a walk through their favorite mall, some with mixed feelings. They were met by hand sanitizers and servers in masks and eager business owners.
Jonathan Pagan, a bartender from Plantation, headed to Sawgrass Mills and found a mall different from the one he was used to — less crowded and with fewer stores to browse.
“I’ve never seen this place look like this ever in my life,” Pagan said. “It’s different. It’s strange. [But] I’m just happy the mall is open.”
‘You’ve got to start somewhere’
In Fort Lauderdale, diners and gyms moved fast to ramp up operations Monday after weeks of being forced to close.
For many, longtime loyal customers came rolling in.
At Joe’s Diner at the Harbor Shops south of the 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale, owner Steve Pearce found a gathering of regulars about 6:30 a.m. The diner opened at 50% capacity with 11 tables, all spaced 6 feet apart.
“You’ve got to start somewhere,” Pearce said. All 12 of his employees returned to work Monday.
Several doors east of Joe’s, a chiropractor who cut his hours during the lockdown began welcoming a long roster of clients starting at 8 a.m.
“We were an essential business, so we were open part-time,” said Dr. Barak Meraz, owner of Jaguar Therapeutics.
During the lockdown, he saw only those clients suffering from severe pain. His clinic maintained the same distancing and cleaning mandates as Fort Lauderdale is now requiring of gyms and fitness centers, he said.
Some gyms stay dark
On Monday, some Fort Lauderdale gyms remained closed.
County officials ordered gyms to stay shuttered on Monday even though Gov. Ron DeSantis said gyms across the state could open. Fort Lauderdale challenged the county’s order and told gym owners they were free to open.
At the Harbor Shops, an LA Fitness gym remained dark and empty Monday morning. So did the Powerhouse Gym at the Galleria Mall, which opened at 11 a.m.
“It’s pretty annoying,” said a disappointed patron who arrived at the Powerhouse Gym only to find the doors still closed.
On the big bend at Federal Highway and Sunrise Boulevard, the Upload Fitness Club was open for business.
Owner Jonathan Larkin, in business since 2009, said he retained all 18 of his employees at all five of his centers in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
“I kept them all on and they earned their pay, too,” Larkin said. “They were so dedicated and grateful, they were coming in and cleaning every day.”
‘Waiting with bated breath’
In downtown Hollywood, customers sipped coffee and ordered pastries at the Chocolada Bakery & Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard.
Hungry customers chatted over breakfast at tables set 6 feet apart.
Cafe owner Theodora Dayan said she felt happy yet nervous about reopening. Until COVID-19 cases go on the downswing, Chocolada is offering only outdoor dining.
“To tell you the truth, I believe that it’s a little bit early on one hand,” Dayan said. “On the other, it helps us [to finally open].”
Customers Marina Brett and husband Robert sat outside the bakery’s window sharing brunch after their morning walk. A small, purple-hued bottle of hand sanitizer sat on the table between them. The husband and wife both had blue face masks, which they donned after eating.
“We’re locals. We’re down here every day,” Marina Brett said. “We’ve been waiting with bated breath.”
Only a few people walked downtown Hollywood streets Monday morning. Some wore masks; some did not.
Stephanie Wilcox, out for a walk for her mixed breed dog Pita, said she wasn’t sure now is the right time for businesses to reopen.
“I think it’s a little early, and we should all still be very careful,” Wilcox said. “I’m being cautious.”
Beaches remained closed in Broward on Monday, but the Broadwalk in Hollywood was alive with bicyclists and joggers and retirees in fold-up chairs watching the waves from the oceanfront promenade.
For 86-year-old Phyllis Elfont, chair time is social time — and COVID-19 has done little to change that.
She wears a mask and asks people to stay 6 feet back while they chat. She makes friends every time she sits in her chair, she says. Acquaintances have turned into long-lasting friendships, the kind where you can talk politics and exchange holiday cards.
“I see people I know,” Elfont said. “It’s a social event. It’s a wonderful thing I have here.”
Just a few steps away, Grumpy Gary’s bar and grill still waited to open. The spot at 101 N. Ocean Drive on the Broadwalk plans to welcome customers again on May 29, said manager Jennifer Cameron.
“We figured we’d let everyone else open first and we’d come in after,” she said.
On Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, HUSTLER Hollywood opened its doors as part of the reopening of 35 intimacy apparel stores nationwide.
The retailer is asking all customers to wear face masks and urging them to pay with credit cards to minimize contact with sales staff.
“We have been helping people with intimacy and relationships for years, and right now, many people have the extra time to do some exploration, and that is where we come in,” said Philip Del Rio, vice president of retail.
That said, the company is not letting customers try on lingerie and other items since fitting rooms are still closed for now.
Guards at every entrance
At the mammoth Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise, security guards stood at every entrance, ready to hand out masks and enforce the cap on shoppers. Security workers roamed the mall to ensure customers were social distancing.
Inside the mall, shoppers strolled around wearing masks, keeping at least 6 feet apart.
A line of 10 people waited to be let into a Forever 21 store by staff wearing masks and gloves. But other areas were so quiet, you could hear the squeak of tennis shoes on the tile floor.
Just after 2 p.m., Daniel Torres walked out shaking his head. When another shopper walked by, Torres told him not much was open.
“I’m excited to be out, but it’s not better because at the end of the day there’s still nothing open,” he said. “You really can’t do anything so it’s pointless in a way, but little by little they will start reopening it.”
Skechers, Hurley and Finishline were open on Monday but Champion, Nike Factory, LEGO and Bed Bath & Beyond remained closed.
After more than two months on lockdown, Samantha Rodriguez, of Weston, said she came to the mall out of sheer boredom. She arrived about 3 p.m. all ready to visit her favorite stores.
She went straight to Michael Kors, but it was still closed. Then it was on to Gucci — also closed.
“Since I’m bored at home, and I don’t have anything to do, I’ll still come until they open my favorite shop,” she said.
Outside the Oasis entrance, two friends sipped on mojitos at the Mojitobar.
Julian Nunoz, of Fort Myers, and Jorge Lagos, of Pembroke Pines, said they came to the mall to walk around. Half an hour later, they were sitting down to have a drink.
“There’s no people,” Nunoz said. “There’s no stores open. There’s no life.”
Lagos tilted his head to hear above the music, then said: “We’ve been waiting for a long, long time for this.”