Business is open and looking for your support
As I’m writing this, we are around 130 days before Christmas. There is no better time to get a jump on the shopping. I obviously say this tongue and cheek, but as the Executive Director of one of the oldest Chamber of Commerce in the commonwealth, I can’t be any more excited to see businesses reopening this summer. It has not been an easy summer for anyone anywhere as the country still battles a viral outbreak. There will still be restrictions and limitations as we jump into a new season but I wanted to reassure the public that our members are happy to serve their customers.
Our chamber has over 400 member companies that span across 70+ zipcodes and represent 5 dozen industries in the region. Through the windows of our historic chamber office, located 2 blocks from the largest retail mall in America, I can see shoppers begin to safely return to shopping. Yes, you will need masks. Yes, you will see arrows, plexiglas windows and floor decals to remind you to social distance in check out lines but there are prideful business owners still awaiting your patronage.
Our Chamber has around 20+ restaurant members. They are not just Chamber members to me. These are terrific restaurants that I personally take my wife and family too. Actually, I have been to all of them in the last 2 years. Last weekend my wife and I had dinner in Town Center in King of Prussia, where we had an outdoor table and watched hundreds of people basking in the nice weather and tasty entrees of the other 4-5 establishments in the area.
This is not a plea or a cheap promotion for the advocacy of those businesses we call members. This is a tip and a reassurance that it’s ok to come spend money at these terrific stores and restaurants that create an economic engine to the Montgomery County area.
If you still remain hesitant you can find a website to many of these places where they careful outline their commitments to sanitizing and safely offering services, which by the way is standard in the restaurant industry even during times of non-pandemics. We also have salons, personal care places, massage therapists, and gyms. We recognize the trepidation in personal contact and once again, many of them were practicing safe hygiene and cleanliness before it was a CDC Guideline.
I am asking each of you to join me as we continue to make this county strong by shopping at both our large box-stores but equally important, our smaller businesses. The Mall is open, the stores are open and we are hoping your heart is open to supporting businesses.