‘MELLOW YELLOW’
Area businesses celebrate getting back to work
Friday was the first day back at work for Melinda Winkler at Works2gether.
At the comfortable, shared office space where most bring their own laptops like they do at a coffee house, Winkler and co-workers used the time since March to install “a tremendous amount of household upgrades, while taking a lot of precautionary measures,” Winkler said.
Winkler said the storefront is receiving many messages from customers who missed the business.
“Everyone is very eager to get back,” she said.
On Thursday, Gov. Tom
Wolf confirmed that Chester County would be move from the state’s red, “stay at home” status, to the more relaxed, but still somewhat restricted, yellow phase, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
During the yellow phase, restrictions on businesses and a variety of organizations will be relaxed so that Chester County can begin to move forward in a safe and cautious way.
According to county officials, the county’s next goal — to move to the open green phase no later than the end of June — “requires the full cooperation of every person in Chester County to follow the relaxed restrictions, in order to show that we can contain and manage the coronavi
rus. Please heed the yellow phase restrictions so that Chester County is ready to ‘go green’ before the end of June,” they said in a press release.
The three commissioners joined with others in the county celebrating the beginning of a return to normalcy — mostly by dining out.
“I am wearing a yellow shirt, anticipating visits from my children and grandchildren over the weekend,” said commissioners Chairwoman Marian Moskowitz in an email Friday from her home in Tredyffrin. “It has been three long months seeing and speaking with them by Skype. Two of my grandchildren walked in the door just now and to my surprise, one of them grew about 2 inches.
“I have craved social interaction outside of my home so tomorrow evening I am going to a restaurant and have someone else cook and serve my meal,” Moskowitz said. “I will continue to wear my masks, socially distance and wash my hands. I’m very excited!”
On Friday, Commissioner Michelle Kichline said she and her family, including daughter Amanda, a recent Cornell University graduate, were “heading over to Malvern to eat outside at Christopher’s. Can’t wait! I’m tired of cooking and I think my family is tired of my cooking, too!”
Kichline added that she had also gotten in touch with a dog groomer to handle the wooly mess that had became of the fur of her two pet dogs, West Whiteland terrier Buddy and Brittany Spaniel Indy. “They both look feral,” she said.
Commissioner Josh Maxwell, a Downingtown resident, spent Friday morning getting breakfast with his wife, Blair, at the Farmhouse Coffee and Expresso Bar in the borough’s East End. “Blair said (their’s) is much better than the coffee I’ve been making at home,” he joked.
All across the county, people began returning to work and former routines. At Four–J’s LTD, located across Lancaster Avenue from Work2gether, it was owner John Riccardo’s first day since March.
“I’ve lost a lot of business that hopefully will come back,” Riccardo said about the carpeting, vinyl flooring, ceramic tile and bathroom renovation shop.
Riccardo is optimistic after 45 years at work.
“We hope that people quarantined are tired of looking at their floor and want to replace it,” he said. “Once that phone starts ringing it will make the day go faster.
“I missed working. It’s nice to be back.”
Jon Fiorelli runs Fiorelli Financial Group, featuring insurance and financial services, and Be Prepared Tax Service, in West Goshen. Fiorelli ran the onsite business solo since March and the staff came back to work at the office this week.
“It’s nice to have the camaraderie and free-flowing sharing of ideas,” he said.
Five employees at the financial group and three employees preparing taxes took their workstations home, including even their chairs and monitors.
“The client interaction was relatively seamless,” Fiorelli said. “I’m glad to have my people.
“It feels like family and I was missing my family.”
“Words cannot truly convey how much we appreciate the support of our wonderful family of customers during this time when our doors were shuttered and our business was threatened with extinction,” said Anthony Vietri, owner of Va La Vineyards in Avondale.
“We are very small farm, we are very handson, and we strive to offer folks something that is a bit different,” Vietri said. “Some of our friends and colleagues in a similar situation have not been as blessed as we were, and sadly will not be able to re-open. We did not share that fate solely because of the wonderful support that we have received.”
The local winemaker and farmer, who was born-and-raised in Chester County, continued, “To our folks, we can only say, that we view your taking a bottle from this farm to serve at your table as a sacred thing: it is the sole reason that we can do this thing that we love.”
“It is great to see everything opening back up and beginning our new normal,” said Avery Skalish, general manager of the Landenberg Store in New Garden Township. “We have really appreciated the community’s support for local businesses these past few months. We have enjoyed getting to know so many new faces, keep it coming! We hope we made these tough times a little easier by providing our services. We wish everyone a healthy and happy summer.”
Giordano’s Bar & Grill in Kennett Square has kept busy during the quarantine offering customers ongoing takeout service. Domenic Giordano said his family business has kept 50 percent of its staff thanks to take-out demand in town. He owns the business alongside his two younger brothers, John and Frank. His parents, Domenic Giordano and Elena Giordano, founded the business four decades ago. The restaurant opened at its current location in 1993, but it began as a small takeout business back in 1980. “That was our backbone. So for us, it was no change. We were set up for it. It worked out very well for us.” In 1999, Giordano’s Bar & Grill expanded on Cypress Street by adding a sports bar. With 12,000 square feet, the venue is ready to open again for in-dining services and can implement social distance guidelines easily inside given its vast space. The menu features traditional Italian cuisine from Giordano’s family roots in Italy. “Thanks for supporting us,” Giordano said of community customers. The Giordano family also owns Scaffer’s Canal House, opened in 2012, in Chesapeake City, Maryland. This past week, outside dining reopened in Maryland for the first time since March 16. Giordano also expressed his gratitude to all local emergency responders during the historic 2020 pandemic this spring. “Thank you,” he said. “Temperatures outside are getting warmer and we are definitely ready for it,” said James Miller, owner of State Street Pizza & Grill and co-owner of Liberty Place Pub in downtown Kennett Square. “Celebrate the closing of quarantine by coming out to enjoy fresh air and fresh food.” Miller invited people to visit the Market at Liberty Place on State Street in Kennett Square. “Come enjoy our fully opened patio while sipping on a cold brew or colorful mixed drink made just for you by our talented mixologists,” Miller said. “After being indoors for the past several weeks, you’ve earned some time away from home to breathe in the air of ‘the Square’ while taking in all that we have to offer.” Miller added, “We would also like to thank all of you for your heartfelt support during a time when many had to close down their kitchens and faced economic uncertainty. “You continued to call in, pick-up, or have us come to you and without you. We would not have had the continued success that you’ve grown to expect from us. We look forward to gathering together again, while continuing to respect the parameters of social distance guidelines,” Miller said. “And again, from our family to yours: ‘Welcome back!’” TX Tagline:To contact Staff Writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-6961544.