Page 13 - BusinessWest August 4, 2021
P. 13

  Great Barrington
Continued from page 11
While admitting it’s difficult to find positives from a worldwide pandemic, Andrus said one benefit was forcing businesses in town to change the way they had been operating.
“I think we were kind of stagnant before,” she said. “Then, suddenly, our businesses had to put a lot of energy into how they could reinvent themselves.”
In addition to sit-down restaurants figuring out how to become takeout places, Andrus pointed to Robin’s Candy Shop, which could no longer allow customers to serve themselves in the shop.
“They moved the store around overnight, so now the staff gets you everything you want,” she said. “Then Robin’s quickly switched over to online sales, which is no small feat, either.”
While Great Barrington saw some stores permanently shutter their busi- nesses during the pandemic, Andrus said COVID was not usually the main reason for closing. In some cases,
the businesses that did not survive the pandemic were struggling before COVID hit. For others, the pandemic
“I think we were kind of stagnant before. Then, suddenly, our businesses had to put a lot of energy into how they could reinvent themselves.”
provided the opportunity for owners to change professions or retire.
“We had a huge movement of stores that was similar to musical chairs,” she said. “When a business would close and make their space available, multi- ple people were trying to sign up for it.”
Filling the Gaps
Like musical chairs, there are no empty spaces now in downtown Great Barrington. As a lifelong resident, Andrus said she’s never seen so much activity.
“In some ways, this big shift is the best thing that could have happened,” she noted. “The stores have all settled in to the right locations for what they are selling, and it has really changed the atmosphere in town.”
With retail storefronts full, the sec- ond- and third-story office spaces are also reaching full occupancy. Pruhenski hopes the current boom can address a long-term concern in town.
“We’ve always anticipated that Great Barrington would see a popula- tion decline over the next decade and beyond,” he said. “It would be great to see the influx of new residents flatten or even reverse that decline.”
While many town halls closed dur- ing the pandemic and conducted busi- ness remotely, Pruhenski said Great Barrington Town Hall closed only twice, for a month each time. Other- wise, he and his staff came in every day to keep several town projects moving forward.
In 2019, the state Department of Transportation had closed the Division Street bridge. Right now, the project is in the permitting and design phase for a new bridge, which is scheduled to open next summer.
“Division Street is an important bridge because it links the east side of town to the west,” Pruhenski said. “It’s
Mark Pruhenski says Great Barrington has seen an influx of new residents during the pandemic.
   Meeting On The Golf Course?
Keep moving toward your goals with HUB.
 When you partner with us, you’re at the center of a vast network of experts dedicated to advising you on how to prepare for the unexpected with:
Business insurance and risk services to help protect your organization, brand and assets
Employee benefits that help you navigate change, and support and engage your people
Personal insurance to help you protect your family, your home and more
Retirement and Wealth Management to help streamline your retirement offerings
Let’s protect what matters most to you.
 We’re here to help.
Visit our COVID-19 Resource Center for critical updates, resources, business re-entry planning and local office information.
(413) 733-3131
hubinternational.com
 Advocacy | Tailored Insurance Solutions | Peace of Mind
       COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
AUGUST 4, 2021 13
BusinessWest































































   11   12   13   14   15