It’s a brave new world, at least temporarily, for any operator of any bricks-and-mortar retail location.
The coronavirus outbreak has ushered in the era of social distancing, and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered all restaurants, gyms and theaters to reduce capacity to 10 or close. Arlington County officials, meanwhile, have urged restaurants to close their dining rooms completely.
At the Gold’s Gym in Ballston today, a line formed — with most people appearing to keep their recommended six-foot distance from one another — as a sign announced a 10-member capacity inside and a 30-minute limit on workouts.
It was the biggest congregation of people ARLnow spotted up and down the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Elsewhere, people were out walking, running or riding bikes, but few could be seen going in or out of stores or restaurants.
Arlington County, meanwhile, has been establishing temporary pick up and drop off zones in restaurant districts, including Clarendon, for customers of restaurants that remain open for takeout and delivery. The zones replace two-hour metered parking zone.
An ARLnow reader tells us parking enforcement officers have been out and about ticketing today.
To encourage safe pick-up from Arlington restaurants, the County is designating free short-term curbside parking spaces. Look for temporary signs outside restaurants with takeout options. Businesses can request sign installation at 703-228-5000 or [email protected] pic.twitter.com/tDEtXfjHyo
— ArlingtonVA (@ArlingtonVA) March 18, 2020
Reduced volumes of takeout and delivery business are unlikely to sustain local restaurants for very long.
There may be just a bit of relief, however. Virginia ABC has loosened rules on alcohol deliveries, including from restaurants, as noted by the Washington Business Journal’s Alex Koma.
This got me wondering what the guidelines are for Virginia restaurants. Turns out ABC has just made it easier for folks to get delivery permits and is allowing distilleries the ability to deliver/make hand sanitizer, similar to others in D.C. Details: https://t.co/Ru0E4fKfk0 https://t.co/uQLs4D3RwV
— Alex Koma (@AlexKomaWBJ) March 18, 2020
Jay Westcott contributed to this report
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Join the NAACP Arlington Branch, HOME of Virginia, and Equal Rights Center for the 2nd Annual Arlington Fair Housing Conference on April 15th to discuss the threats and opportunities to advancing fair housing policy across the state and within Arlington.
The half-day, in-person event will feature speakers from fair housing advocacy organizations and government agencies including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and focus on fair housing policy trends in Virginia and Arlington County. The conference aims to advance the understanding of issues and policies related to equity and affirmatively further fair housing among local officials, advocates, and members of the public.
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Is home ownership a goal of yours in 2023? Now is the time to make it happen! Grab a (virtual) drink with the area’s top Real Estate experts, learn all about the home buying process and on how you can get $1,500 towards your closing costs immediately!
Did you know the average Arlington renter will spend $150K in 5 years of renting? Stop paying down someone else’s mortgage! Join us for a Rent vs. Buy Happy Hour on Wednesday, April 5th at 6 p.m. via Zoom. If this time doesn’t work, we also are offering times convenient for your schedule!
A lot has happened in the local market since the beginning of the pandemic. Sip on your drink of choice and learn from Northern Virginia, Arlington and Washingtonian Magazines top producing agents! We will discuss the latest market updates, the home buying process and rent vs. buy cost savings. Please RSVP by clicking here.
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