Sam Adams Closing Faneuil Hall Taproom Patio Due To Influx Of Out-Of-State Visitors
BOSTON (CBS) - It was beer and merchandise for contactless pickup only at the Sam Adams Tap Room at Faneuil Hall while the patio and restaurant upstairs was suddenly under lock and key just three weeks after it reopened. "Things should be open and leave it up to visitors to decide if they choose to come or not," said Barbara Wilkinson visiting from Virginia.
But it is because of visitors from what are considered to be out of state hot spots for COVID-19 that the owners decided to make the decision. "We recognize we need to do our part to keep everyone as safe as possible. We are continuing to monitor and evaluate the situation in our community and elsewhere to determine the best course of action for reopening," according to a company statement.
Susan Luongo a pushcart owner at Faneuil Hall called it more "depressing news." She says it comes at the worst possible time when merchants are struggling to bring visitors back to the popular tourist destination. "If they see Sam Adams is closed then they might think OK maybe the rest of the property is closed as well," said Luongo.
Merchants say they are sympathetic to the company's concerns, but also worry about the message it sends to visitors. "It hurts because we've been trying so hard to make it and to tell people we're safe," said Sara Youngelson with the Faneuil Hall Merchants Association. She says they are taking extreme precautions with cleaning and mask wearing.
Still, in mid-July she says business is down 85 percent, and the opening and then closing of the Tap Room takes them in the wrong direction. "When you have the front of your property closed it's going to hurt us," she said.
Larry Phillips visiting from Mississippi said he's been spending money and tipping well. "People are happy to have us here," he said.
That's the enthusiasm merchants say they are looking for, and need to see more of it.
