Grand Rapids Chamber issued the following announcement on July 31.
March 16th was the beginning of a new era for many restaurants and bars in Michigan. Governor Whitmer limited food establishments to take-out services only due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The heart of Grand Rapids thrives off locally owned restaurants that make up a significant portion of the downtown area. With many of these restaurants and bars closed for much of the spring, they have been struggling to stay afloat and maximize profits. This changed on June 1st when the Governor relaxed these restrictions to allow 50% capacity in restaurants. Grand Rapids took it a step further by introducing the concept of Social Zones and Social Districts.
Social Zones allow businesses to expand into part of public sidewalks and streets, expanding capacity and allowing for more dining opportunities. This is one part of Grand Rapids’ plan to re-open the economy and support local businesses.
The newest concept in the works is the idea of Social Districts. Social Districts create common areas, like Social Zones, but more exclusive to bars. This will be an open area where individuals are able to roam freely within the district with a branded cup that includes the name of the bar and the name of the district.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Grand Rapids Chamber
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