Brooklyn Boro

Photos: Signs of economic life in week one of City’s Phase Two reopening

June 26, 2020 Ben Fractenberg, THE CITY
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This story was originally published on June 25 by THE CITY. Sign up here to get the latest stories from THE CITY delivered to you each morning.

In Times Square, some long boarded-up stores started to let the sunlight through their windows, even if shoppers didn’t return in throngs.

More people, it seemed, took advantage of the warm weather and expanded outdoor seating to visit their favorite restaurants after months away.

Perhaps the most popular folks in town, though, were the barbers and hairdressers doing booming business shearing the shaggy.

We capture those and other scenes from week one of Phase Two as the City slowly inches its way back to life amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic:

Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

Persons of Interest in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene reopened Monday with limited capacity and added safety precautions.


Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

Workers prepared stores for customers in the heart of Manhattan.


Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

A Times Square H&M listed safety measures for shoppers.


Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

A group of friends enjoyed some drinks outside Mo’s in Fort Greene, which expanded its outdoor seating onto the sidewalk.


Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

Signs of the city’s deep economic troubles still dotted Midtown.

Molly Marx said it had been “impossible” panhandling on 42nd Street while the area was largely devoid of officer workers and tourists.

“I haven’t had a warm meal in days,” she said.


Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

Workers at Macy’s flagship store wore masks, while floor markers encouraged shoppers to distance.


Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

A Times Square office tower offered masks to workers and checked their temperatures.


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