Bocce is back following 7-month COVID-19 shutdown
After the shut down nearly seven months ago due to COVID-19, the doors are once again open at Palazzo di Bocce in Lake Orion.
Wednesday was the first day of the reopening at the venue which features bocce and a restaurant with Italian cuisine on the menu.
“The game is so simple to play, that’s what makes us popular — everyone can play it,’’ general manager Rhonda Pritchard said.
Every precaution has been made to make the 10 bocce courts safe, but Pritchard expects they will learn what works best as the weeks go by.
Each group plays on its own courts and there is space between them. Masks are required.
“I can’t tell you how we’re going to handle every situation quite yet. So many unknowns,’’ Pritchard said. “We have a 32,000- square foot building so obviously safe distancing is very easy for us. So we’re able to accommodate a lot of guests. We’re going to do our best to keep everybody as far apart and still require masks.’’
She said they purchased special guns that they can use to sanitize the bocce balls quickly between groups.
“Everything, even the railings, are sanitized before the next group comes on. We’re allowing time in-between to clean thoroughly when your group comes on, the balls have been sanitized, the railings have been sanitized,’’ Pritchard said. “When you’re done, we’ll sanitize again.’’
Currently they will have only two leagues, both on the small side. They hope to increase that number starting in January.
“We’re starting up gradually to try to make sure we’re being very safe. We definitely don’t want any of our employees or guests to be ( be infected). We’d rather take it slow and keep everyone safe,’ Pritchard said. “We want to stay open and we want guests to know we care about them so they’ll continue to come to us. We’re not taking anything for granted.’’
She said even though they were closed for so long, many of their employees have returned.
“I have wonderful employees and I’m blessed. They’re pretty much coming back to me and that’s my main concern. That’s the owner ( Tony Battaglia) too. His concern is his employees are working and having a future,’’ Pritchard said. “He would do anything to keep it open for us. We’re kind of blessed in that way.’’