State Rep. Triston Cole today said retail shops, restaurants and bars in Northern Michigan are ready to begin reopening to customers this week.

Cole, of Mancelona, said many small bars and restaurants are struggling to remain open after being restricted to take-out only service by the governor’s executive orders since March 16. Retail shops are also suffering.

“I’m glad the governor is starting to recognize that Northern Michigan families can safely begin taking steps to return to their normal lives,” Cole said. “After more than nine weeks, servers, cooks and bartenders throughout Northern Michigan will finally be able to get back to the jobs that allow them to provide for their families.”

Cole noted that restaurants and bars will be allowed to serve customers while abiding by safety protocols that include providing personal protective equipment to workers, placing tables at least 6 feet apart and operating at no more than 50 percent of their normal seating capacity. Local municipalities will have the authority to place additional limitations on businesses in their jurisdictions, if they so choose.

“I have urged the governor for weeks to end the once-size-fits-all restricts and shift to a regional approach. I’m glad she has listened,” Cole said. “These changes are the first steps we must take to reopen our economy, get people back to work and restore some semblance of normalcy for residents.”

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