Local BIDs, officials hail Open Storefronts program
On the heels of the success of outdoor dining in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio on Oct. 28 announced the Open Storefronts program. So far, the response from Brooklyn business organizations and elected officials has been positive.
Starting Friday, Oct. 30, the program will allow storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions and provide areas for customers to line up. The program is slated to end on Dec. 31.
The program is a part of an effort to increase outdoor activities, which are thought to be less vulnerable to people spreading coronavirus than those that go on indoors. It also advances the mayor’s recovery agenda, which he says is centered on public health and social justice.