Oswego Small Businesses Reopen Doors During Phase Three

OSWEGO – The sound of clinking dishes, low chatter in the background, smells wafting through the air and servers presenting long awaited meals to eager customers are just a few encouraging signs that Oswego’s Phase 3 reopening plan has now begun.

The three month long, COVID-19 quarantine left New Yorkers longing to engage in something resembling the life they once knew before the pandemic.

Phase 3 of New York’s Forward Plan includes the reopening of restaurants, bars, tattoo facilities, massage therapy and appearance enhancement practitioners, such as nail salons, at 50% capacity under strict Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Even with extra work involved, owners are happy to open again.

Vona’s Restaurant, located in the City of Oswego, felt distress as the 76-year old business struggled through the pandemic, offering takeout and delivery options, working to beat the odds of closing its doors for good.

“We didn’t know each week if we were going to continue to stay open,” Vona’s General Manager David Haight said. “We’ve continued to do takeout and curbside pickup; people weren’t comfortable coming in [so] we were running the food out to them, and we were getting a great response from our guests; they’re very appreciative of us going the extra mile.”

Social distancing X’s six feet apart dot the restaurant floors for server/customer safety, face masks, gloves and continuous hand-washing is the new norm for employees, along with copious amounts of hand sanitizer for workers and guests.

“We’re printing out a menu that’s going to be a one-use menu, so once they’re done with it, it can be discarded,” Haight said. “It’s basically a place mat with our full menu on it. The single use menu is another thing that we’re doing to help protect everybody.”

Another business that falls into the Phase 3 category is Olde Anchor Tattoo Studio, found along 1st Street in downtown Oswego. A business with four tattoo artists, Olde Anchor prides themselves in their artistic versatility, and the studio plans to reopen its doors Monday, June 15.

“We pride ourselves in being the cleanest, most professional shop in the county,” Olde Anchor Tattoo Studio owner Nicolas Terramiggi said. “Friendliness and being approachable for all types of clientele, is our goal as well as putting out work our customers can be proud to wear for years to come.”

The pandemic left its mark on businesses nationwide, small businesses being hit the hardest. Terramiggi is grateful to have made it through to the end.

“The quarantine has been rough not only [on] us, but most people throughout the small business world,” Terramiggi said. “Some have lost a lot. Some lost everything. Fortunately, we have many loyal customers that are just as enthusiastic to do businesses with us as we are to get back to work.”

To meet small business capacity guidelines, Olde Anchor appointments will be cut down to one or two customers per day, per artist, until further notice. New adjustments include wearing a face mask, social distancing and spacing out customer interaction as much as they can.

“As far as reopening goes, we have an easy transition. Most of the new guidelines set in place, are already common practice for our industry,” Terramiggi said. “We will have a secondary COVID release form to screen our customers and [we will] implement use of a touch-less thermometer to take temperatures at the door.”

Haight and Terramiggi realize the complexities involved in opening up again, and the caution necessary to make certain that moving into Phase 3 sticks; neither owner wants a replay of the virus in late summer or fall.

“For small shops, doing any business at all could mean the difference [in] keeping the doors open in the long run,” Terramiggi said. “Between having bills to pay and the excitement to get out of our houses, we can’t wait to get back to work.”

For more information or to set up an appointment, contact Olde Anchor Tattoo Studio at (315) 312-0284 or visit their Facebook page or website.

“Mayor Barlow has done a great job of keeping us informed of the next steps in going forward and he’s been an advocate for the small businesses in the area and standing up for us when it comes time for changes to be made and things of that nature,” Haight said. “He’s been a very integral part of the phases going forward. So, I want to certainly give a shout-out to our mayor for all the work he’s doing for the small businesses.”

Vona’s hours are: Monday-Saturday – 4 – 8:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and lunch until further notice. Vona’s is still offering takeout, delivery and curbside pickup. You can contact Vona’s at 315-343-8710 or visit their website or Facebook page.

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