Melrose Businesses Will Decide Own Mask Requirements After May 29

MELROSE, MA — The head of the Melrose Chamber of Commerce was on "Let's Talk Melrose, Melrose" earlier in the week, providing a number of business updates for the city.

Executive Director Jennifer Manning announced the Summer Stroll and Victorian Fair will return to downtown this year.

"We're going full Fair, full Stroll, we're ready to go," she said.

Manning touched on some other issues:

On wearing masks after the face covering order is lifted May 29: "I think a lot of businesses are still going to require masks when you enter, and restaurants as well, unless you're eating. I don't think that's going to go away right away ... We're just going to go with whatever each individual business and business owner has in place."

Manning said storefronts that find themselves empty are "getting snatched up pretty quickly." She also said the Chamber is looking at pop-up shops in some of the ones that remain empty. "Trying to think of what we can do just to revitalize those spaces that have been dark."

Kennedy's Ice Cream has been closed for some time after a fire, but the Chamber is planning on a grand reopening ribbon-cutting soon.

Manning thinks outdoor dining is here to stay, and some downtown businesses are looking to expand their outdoor seating. "I don't think that's going to go away ... some people are still not comfortable eating indoors."

On incoming coffee shop Bitty & Beau's in the old D'Amici's spot: "That is going to be such a great addition to downtown."

Note: "Let's Talk Melrose, Melrose" is a weekly local talk show produced by MMTV. You can watch on Facebook here.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.