The Executive Director of Belleville Downtown District BIA questions the provincial government’s decision to allow big-box stores to stay open during the current COVID-19 lockdown.
Belleville Downtown Executive Director Marijo Cuerrier pointed out the difference to Quinte News in terms of the smaller stores and the big-box stores.
Cuerrier says only one, two or three people are allowed inside at a time in the downtown stores, and equipment is wiped clean with each customer.
“How much safer is one of our big-box stores, I won’t name any, but how much safer are they?”
“I don’t know why that is a decision with the government but it seems like a strange one and it is hard on the small business owners for sure.”
She pointed to a BIA member, whose name she would not identify, who she said went to a big-box store but was too concerned about the conditions to actually shop.
“She went into the store but there was no social distancing. There were nobody wiping down tills or anything like that. She was so appalled and slightly frightened that she left. It was such an unsafe environment.”
On a more upbeat note, Cuerrier also announced that, although Savour the Chill won’t happen this winter, Quintelicious is expected to get underway in March.
“We’re actually going city-wide with the city not only downtown restaurants, several outside of downtown. We’ve got 24 restaurants participating. They choose menu items that are price-fixed so they’re $20 or $40 meals and it can be breakfast, lunch or dinner…March 1 to March 31.”
