It’s been a long, hard haul for many businesses but Friday it’ll be back to close to normal in Ontario.
The Executive Director of Belleville’s Downtown District BIA Luisa Sorrentino says the merchants are excited and getting set to open.
Sorrentino says the vast majority of Downtown District retailers and restaurants have hung on through the lockdowns by being creative and learning new ways of doing business.
“We did have a couple of initiatives that helped them stay afloat like the Marketplace online and different strategies so they could
keep going and engage with the customer.”
Sorrentino says merchants and restaurants are hoping for a good summer and fall and most people are planning short holidays within easy driving distance of their homes.
And the BIA has made an agreement with Ontario Parks to spread the word about what the Downtown District has to offer.
Ontario Parks operates such tourist attractions as Sandbanks Provincial Park.
“While they’re here they can look and find something else to do other than going to the beach so we’re encouraging everyone to go shopping downtown, dining.”
