Since I’ve been asked to write this column, I’ve had a rough idea about what to write each month. In fact, at the start of December I mapped out tentative ideas of what I would be writing each month this year. Up until about two weeks ago, this column would have been printed immediately following our annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
A lot has happened. And it’s happening for everyone, and it seems to be changing by the hour. I cannot begin to imagine what the coming days and weeks will bring. Many of you know Main Street Monroe, Inc. by the dozens of events we host and have hosted over the past 15 years. Because of what we are all going through, our parade was canceled. I want to thank the nearly 40 groups who signed up to be in this year’s parade, the Celtic Pub Crawl (led by Doyle’s Irish Pub and Friendly Inn) for sponsoring, and the dozen volunteers who spearheaded efforts for the event.
Many local residents know firsthand the hardships being faced by local businesses and individuals right now.
It’s a pretty unreal time. I want to let you know what Main Street is doing as we adjust to this new reality. Yes, our events have been put on hold, but we’re still planning, still organizing, still working to represent and assist the hundreds of businesses — service, merchandising, hybrid, those with many employees, those with one employee—that make up the historic district because we exist to be a resource and assist them. We want you to know that we are monitoring all recommendations and updates from government officials surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus), and are informing our businesses of changes.
As of now, our businesses are open. Restaurants and coffee shops are grab and go spots; you can enter to get your carryout items. The first priority for everyone is to take appropriate steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure our entire community remains healthy. We are encouraging anyone who is under the weather or sick to please stay home, encouraging individuals and businesses to clean their environment as often as possible, practice good hygiene and respiratory etiquette and consider others who may be more susceptible to catching a virus. Feel free to ask businesses about the specifics of their cleaning and safety practices.
Our business owners are respecting employees who are wishing to stay home, and are providing hours for staff who are in need of hours. All of this continues with help from customers. Please consider the businesses who have sponsored your softball league, donated baskets to your charities and have helped create memories on your weekends out and holidays, because we are all in this together. Shop over the phone, purchase gift cards, tip wait staff on your carry out orders when possible. Main Street Monroe is having open and direct communication with all of our businesses.
If you have a question about available products, store hours, new shipments or delivery options, please give us a call. We’re here to help you as a consumer, too. It’s our job to stay up to date on what our merchants are doing.
Main Street is actively working with property owners to provide rental assistance to our businesses in this time of need, and tonight we will be launching: Saturday Night Live with Main Street — Live Facebook shopping with House to Home Designs. This will offer you an opportunity to shop new merchandise from the safety and convenience of your home. More, with different businesses, will be scheduled this upcoming week.
The safety of Monroe’s residents, workers and visitors is of the utmost importance to us. During this time of adjustments in social events, work schedules, and travel, we encourage you to remember our many small businesses in the district and throughout our community and to continue supporting them even if you cannot visit them physically.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net.
