ORANGE — Downtown dining has gone al fresco since a group of residents created an outdoor area for people supporting local eateries.
A team of citizens commandeered six spaces in the parking lot in the center of town and prettied up the spot to help patrons enjoy food while indoor seating is still limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Polly Bixby said she and her partner, Karen Grzesik, came up with the idea two weeks ago after purchasing coffee and scones from Corner Cafe (inside Trail Head Outfitters & General Store at 1 South Main St.) and having to consume the items while standing on the sidewalk.
“We need to save our restaurants,” Bixby said this week. “It’s there for the community to use.”
Indoor dining at Massachusetts restaurants resumed in late June, three months after Gov. Charlie Baker ordered dining rooms closed in an attempt to thwart the spread of the novel coronavirus. There are still rules to adhere to — parties of more than six people per table are prohibited and tables must be 6 feet apart. Also, patrons must wear a mask when away from their table, menus must be disposable, and seating at bars is not allowed.
Bixby said she and Grzesik took the idea up to Orange Town Hall to talk to Town Administrator Gabriele Voelker, who was all for it. Janice Lanou joined Bixby and Grzesik in spearheading the project.
There are now three tables, with umbrellas, and four benches in the eating area. The rest of the parking lot is still available to vehicles and Bixby said local business owners have been very gracious about having the lot used for dining.
Bixby said she hopes for some state grant money that will replace the temporary three tables — all on loan — with three permanent ones and another three that can be placed around town as seems fitting.
Terry Bouchard, who has owned Corner Cafe for one year, said the outdoor dining area has been used frequently in the short time it has existed.
“I think it’s going to be wonderful,” she said Wednesday.
Bouchard said her cafe’s breakfast business has dwindled significantly since March and she is now focusing more on baked items.
Julie Davis, store manager at nearby Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op, said Thursday she already had customers purchase food and mention they were going to take it to the outdoor area. She said others have asked about it. She said the co-op had a couple of indoor tables before the pandemic.
“It’s a community space. It’s for everybody to use,” Davis said of the outdoor dining area. “It’s been a great alternative.”
Other eateries near the intersection are The Pizza Factory, which reportedly is reopening soon, and Subway.
Voelker said the idea took off once it started. She applauded the volunteer effort that made it possible and said everything there so far has been donated.
“It was a community affair, basically,” Voelker said.
Bixby explained Pennie and Pam Smith purchased and installed all the plantings at the site and Bixby’s granddaughter Kaitlin Gervais-Scutari and great-granddaughters Lucia and Rose Scutari teamed up with one of Gervais-Scutari’s friends to paint some of the objects in the space.
Bixby and Voelker said all users dine at their own risk and will be responsible for sanitizing anything they touch and maintaining a proper social distance from strangers. Voelker she has taken it upon herself to help by visiting every morning and spraying the tables with cleaning solution.
“But we’re not policing it,” she warned.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.