Slowly but surely, Mid-Shore main streets are starting the long process of opening up after their two months COVID-19 hibernation. As Maryland begins a multiphase program to re-open its economy, the region’s downtowns are working on final plans on how local merchants can unlock their doors. At the same time, these municipalities are also surveying the collateral damage that the coronavirus crisis had caused to its retail economy.
One person who has been watching this very carefully has been Ross Benincasa, the executive director of Discover Easton, the town’s primary agency for promoting tourism and supporting its retail economy. And like many people in his role, Ross sees the seeds of a promising re-opening but maintains a realistic awareness that this is the beginning of a very long road.
The Spy sat down with Ross in the outdoor patio of the Tidewater Inn a few days ago to hear both the good and the bad regarding his town’s economic future. He talks about a new plan for Plein Air this summer, local stores that are doing well, and national chain stores that might not recover. And he also talks about new businesses still planning to open soon, and even a totally renovated Easton Premier Cinemas that seems to be designed with social distancing in mind, even though the movie house’s remodeling plans far pre-dated the arrival of COVID-19.
This video is approximately nine minutes in length. For more information about Discover Easton, please go here.
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