Phase 3 Re-open begins
CRMA to continue push for general retail to be expanded
CRMA Golf Outing ready to tee off
CRMA to participate in Sen Blumenthal roundtable
News and notes from around the state
- Yesterday was the official day for Phase 3 of CT’s Re-Opening. Among the changes we can expect to see in Phase 3 are 75% indoor capacity in restaurants, hair salons, barber shops and libraries, and indoor performing arts venues can open at 50% capacity.
- While we are happy to see more business allowed to expand their operation or, in some cases, begin operations, we are disappointed that general retail was not allowed to expand our in-store capacity to 75%, which is permitted in the Phase 3 guidelines.
- We have been in communication with the Governor’s team, particularly DECD Commissioner David Lehman, about our industry’s desire to see capacity increase and we will continue to push him and other administration officials on behalf of the entire retail industry.
- Commissioner Lehman expects to make another announcement regarding further expansion in about 4 weeks. In the meantime, we will stay in touch with him and will share any of your stories about how increased capacity in stores will be beneficial to your retail business.
- Please feel free to send us your thoughts at tim@ctretailnetwork.com
- The Hartford Courant has more on what is changed in Phase 3. You can look at that story, here.
CRMA Golf outing ready to tee off
- On Tuesday of next week, CRMA will host our annual Golf Outing at Wampanoag CC in West Hartford.
- As we put the final pieces together for the event, we want to thank all of this year’s participants and sponsors in advance for all their support, in what can only be described as a different year from all others.
- As close as we are to teeing off, there is still time to participate – but please act NOW if you are interested.
- You can learn more about the event by going here.
CRMA to participate in Sen. Blumenthal round table discussion
- Later today, CRMA President Tim Phelan and CRMA member Steph Blozy, owner of Fleet Feet in West Hartford, will participate in an Economic Recovery Roundtable discussion with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and representatives of other Connecticut industries on the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in the state.
- We appreciate the invitation and will do our best to represent the retail industry.
- If you’d like to tune in, you can do so here. It begins at 12:30, coordinated by the MetroHartford Alliance and SCORE Connecticut.
- We will update you next week – or sooner, if there is any breaking news – about how it went.
News and notes from around the state
- Ned Lamont is considering giving municipalities facing spikes in COVID-19 the discretion to reimpose stricter mandates that were eased Thursday when the state entered Phase 3 of its reopening. CTNewsJunkie reports the story here.
- According to a new survey by Pitney Bowes, one in four online shoppers admit they are turn to online shopping to overcome boredom. Fairfield County Business Journal has the story here.
- Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus coordinator, met with Connecticut officials on Hartford, and said the recent uptick in cases in Connecticut and across the Northeast is worrisome. CT Mirror has the story here.
- Some national retailers are starting the holiday shopping season in October to alleviate potential crowds later in the year, according to an Associated Press story featured on the Connecticut Post website, here.
- The state Department of Public Health issued a “COVID alert” for the New London, in an effort to curb the rising level of new coronavirus cases. The New London Day has the latest, here.
- Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary and his wife are among the latest public officials to report having tested positive for coronavirus. News 8 has the news here.