Items

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  2020-04

  Maple Street Biscuit Company

  Maple Street located in historic St. Augustine was deemed an essential business during the statewide quarantine. To help the community they sold extra toilet paper, cases of water and paper towels, which were out of stock at most grocery stores.
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  2020-07-27

  The Social Lounge Bar

  Located in Saint Augustine, FL. Business closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic 2020 The Social Lounge was forced to close forced to close amid the pandemic. As of June 2020, they were unable to open due to state and city mandates. Owners Scott and Coleen Moulton commented: "We hope to open as soon as possible, and when we do we want to make sure it is a safe environment for our staff and customers."
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  2020-06-15

  Maple Street Biscuit Co.

  Maple Street Biscuit Co restaurant located in downtown Saint Augustine, FL. Several signs posted on the front doors read: "Dear Guests, Your safety is our top priority. If you have any of the following symptoms, we ask that you do not enter: Fever, Cough." Another sign read: "We ask you please wear a face mask upon entering our community store." A sign that sits on the counter by the register read: "Out of respect for other guests and our team, please do not reach behind our counter." Brief interview with Community Leader (Store Manager) Emilee O'Kelley: What Plan did you come up with to ensure the safety of your guests and employees? It is actually not my plan. The plan was implemented by corporate and distributed to all locations. In the beginning of lockdown, we tried to do as much to ensure that we could keep our stores up and running. First, we shut down our dining rooms. We made everything to go and third-party delivery. We went down to a limited menu. And we opened a community store where people could buy pasta, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, paper towels and produce to ensure that our community was taken care of as well. Right now our dining room is back open to 50 percent capacity in compliance with Florida guidelines. All of the tables are 6 feet away from each other and were taking extra precautions by making sure all of team members are wearing masks. We offer guests plastic cutlery. We stopped operating self-serve stations and now a team member assists guests. Do your employees currently receive hazard pay? No How has your business operations or income changed since COVID and quarantine? Income definitely. We were used to doing $2000-dollar weekdays and $6000-dollar weekends and during quarantine we were only making max 600 dollars a day. With the travel ban lifted we have slowly gotten back to normal operations, but it is still not the same. Did you implement curbside takeout? How did that transition go? We did not advertise curbside takeout, but if they called and asked us to bring it out to their car, we would. We mostly shifted in a way to make our guests as comfortable as possible while following our corporate guidelines. Have you had any issues with customers since the implementation of new guidelines, specifically the mask mandate? No, because our store does not strictly require a mask mandate. We politely ask that our customers wear a mask, but they will not refuse service. Are your employees allowed to ask customers to wear a mask? No
• 
  2020-07-27

  The Prince of Wales Restaurant and Pub

  Located in downtown Saint Augustine, FL. Closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. Remained closed as of July. Owners were unavailable for comment. The Prince of Wales Restaurant and Pub was forced to close in April due to state order close of all nonessential businesses. They have yet to reopen as of late July 2020.
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  2020-07-14

  EarthBound Store

  Earthbound, located on Saint George Street in Saint Augustine, FL displayed several signs throughout their store. Outside they had signs that read: “Wearing a face mask is required for both your protection and ours.” And “To help us follow CDC guidelines, we're limiting the multiple entry points to this location. We are requesting only 15 people to occupy this store at a time.” Signs were also displayed in the store encouraging visitors to maintain a 6-foot distance from all other customers. Interview with crew member Bryce: What plan was created to ensure the safety of your guests? Our store was briefly closed during quarantine, since we were not considered an essential business. During reopening we all went through training to start sanitizing all of our areas that people would touch in the store. Do your employees currently receive hazard pay? No How has your business changed since COVID? We are limiting how many people can enter the store at a time, other than that nothing has changed that much. If you are a restaurant did you implement take out or curbside, and how did that go? We are not a restaurant. What steps did you have to take in order to comply with local and federal government orders? All of out crew members and customers have to wear masks. We are required to limit how many people enter our store, since it is small. We are not allowed to have any testers out for things such as makeup.
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  2020-07-29

  Prohibition Kitchen and Roosevelt Room

  Prohibition Kitchen and Roosevelt room located on Saint George Street in Saint Augustine, FL had several signs in bright orange to grab ' attention. The most extensive was a sign (pictured) detailing how to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and the symptoms. Other signs stated that guests were required to wear a face mask upon entering, and stated that seating would be limited due to the new social distancing guidelines provided by the state. They also provided a barcode to scan and read a digital menu on your phone. Interview transcription with manager Charles: What plan was created to ensure the safety of your guests? Our restaurant currently is operating at 50 percent capacity. During quarantine we closed the restaurant and stayed closed until Florida had moved into phase two of reopening. All of our tables are frequently sanitized, and our servers are required to wear masks. When they start their shift, they are required to answer questions about their health or any symptoms they may be experiencing. Do your employees currently receive hazard pay? No How has your business changed since COVID? We operate slightly differently now. We have to be more careful and we are not able to accommodate as many guests. If you are a restaurant did you implement take out or curbside, and how did that go? No, the restaurant was closed and there was no way to do any kind of curbside takeout. What steps did you have to take in order to comply with local and federal government orders? We have all of our guests and servers wear masks. If a guest enters without a mask they are asked to leave. We have several signs on our door that state that. All of our table are either six feet apart or we only seat guests at every other table. Our bar is currently closed, but we still have live music for the dinner guests.
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  2020-07-19

  Schmagel's Bagels

  Sign outside encouraged customers to use the outside seating and follow CDC social-distancing guidelines. Sign read: “Our Schmagels family wants you and your family to be happy and healthy.”
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  2020-07-27

  Ben and Jerry's

  Ben and Jerry's outside doors displayed lighthearted and creative signs encouraging guests to comply with local and federal social-distancing orders. The first stated: "We're sure your smile is lovely, but... masks must be worn in the shop." The second sign read: "Please follow the cow markers on the floor" and showed a picture of cows standing six feet apart.