 |
| An artist's rendering of pods and stands set up in Town Square. |
The stands will enable restaurants to sell prepared food and beverages in an outdoor setting and patrons will be able to consume meals, snacks and beverages in the heated pods, which have three open sides for good ventilation.
Toria and Table 5 and Lucy and the Wolf restaurants will be the first to serve special quick-bite menus from the food stands.
The stands are open from 4-9 p.m. Friday, from noon until 9 p.m. Saturday and from noon until 6 p.m. Sunday in Town Square, which is decorated for the season. The centrally-located park on Main Street, east of Center features a large Christmas tree, a Letters to Santa mailbox, and a year-round concert stage and Wi-Fi.Several restaurants have erected structures outside their buildings to continue serving patrons while abiding by state mandates that closed indoor dining due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and area businesses continue to raise funds to purchase the outdoor pods and stands, which were designed and made locally. To contribute, visit the GoFundMe campaign.
Dining pods operate on a first-come basis and can't be reserved. Food may also be purchased from area restaurants and consumed at these pods. Designated restaurants/bars with special liquor licenses can sell alcoholic drinks for consumption in the Social District. All restaurants are open for carry-out with delivery options. For a full list of restaurants, visit the DDA website.
Portions of Main Street and North Center are closed to traffic so people can stroll through the pedestrian walkway, dine outdoors or shop. More pods and stands will be delivered by the end of this month. Those visiting the Social District should still practice physical distancing, wear masks and use hand sanitizer frequently.
The street closures will be monitored by the DDA and could change if warranted.
