On Monday, March 1, the state entered the second step of its planned Phase 3 reopening. In this step, restaurants are now allowed to offer indoor dining and events based on the requirement that tables be 6 feet apart, rather than on a percentage of its normally allowed capacity. Established COVID-19 health regulations must continue to be followed, however. This means face masks are required for everyone except those who are seated and eating. Other places of business will now be allowed to operate at 50% capacity, up from 25%.
In Harvard, several businesses are beginning to open further and are also looking ahead to spring weather when sitting outside will be possible again. As state rules for reopening continue to evolve, none of the businesses in town is rushing to make changes, wary that circumstances could change at a moment’s notice.
Harvard General Store
The store plans to open its outdoor grill and table service in the coming weeks. The General also plans to reopen for indoor dining by the summer, possibly by the end of April. Indoor dining would have limited seating on the upper level, and the store is currently looking into how social distancing and air filtration would work in this space. Limited indoor shopping opened at the store last month and will continue to be an option.
Carlson Orchards
The Cider Barn at Carlson Orchards has been open for some time now and will continue to operate under its current regulations, including social distancing and face mask requirements. The barn has a few tables with benches that are spread apart and will add more tables for outdoor seating as the weather gets nicer. Indoor shopping in the store will remain the same as well, where customers travel through the store in one direction.
Sorrento’s Pizzeria
Sorrento’s Pizzeria is now open for both indoor and outdoor dining. Indoor dining is limited to three tables, but the restaurant has more than five tables outside for customers to enjoy their meals in the open air.
Fruitlands Museum
Fruitlands launched its weekend-only “Frozen Fruitlands” event in January, which will continue until March 28. Admission for this event is timed, with limited capacity, and the museum grounds are currently open on weekends only. Frozen Fruitlands lets visitors walk the grounds, including hiking, snowshoeing, sledding, and sitting by a private fire pit. Admission also allows access to two of the museum’s indoor galleries. The current exhibitions at the Wayside Gallery and the Art Gallery are called “Recruiting for Utopia,” “Polly Thayer Starr: Nearer the Essence,” and “Sue McNally: Ascutney Revisited.” Limited in-person shopping in the museum shop is also available. However, the rest of the museum galleries, and the restaurant, will remain closed for the rest of the winter season.
Bodylines Pilates
Owner Kim Casto has been offering virtual classes throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so. However, the studio will open for “very limited” in-person classes. In an email to the Press, Casto wrote: “Even though the governor allows 50% capacity, we are choosing to continue to operate at 25% capacity so people feel extraordinarily safe.” Most classes, she said, will stay in the virtual studio for now.
Dunkin’
For now, the coffee, doughnut, and breakfast shop will continue to offer indoor seating for a total of 12 people, with three tables for four spread across the shop. The indoor pickup window and drive-thru will continue to operate as before.
Siam Pepper Thai Cuisine
A manager at the restaurant said takeout would remain the only option for now, because the indoor space is limited. Outdoor dining is a goal for the restaurant in the near future.
Friendly Crossways
This retreat center and outdoor wedding venue has held a few outdoor events over the course of the pandemic, but it is now open for booking larger outdoor events starting in May and indoor events starting in June. For indoor events, including dining and overnight stays, the capacity will be a maximum of 25 guests. For outdoor events, the capacity will be a maximum of 120 guests. Outdoor events of more than 25 people, however, will require a tent in case of inclement weather because of the limited capacity indoors. At the Crossways, the dance floor will be limited to one couple at weddings. State guidelines say that dance floors must remain closed until Phase 4, which is currently scheduled to begin at the end of March.
Valerie Hurley contributed to this report.
