Page 14 - BusinessWest September 15, 2021

Hadley
Continued from page 11
holding networking events. Just before the mask mandate returned in August, the chamber sponsored Margarita Madness, a popular event that had been shelved for two years because of COVID. While the event is normally held at Hampshire Mall, the Young Men’s Club of Hadley hosted it this year at its outdoor pavilion. An event that usually draws about 450 people saw nearly 325 in attendance, but that’s encouraging to Pazmany because it shows people want to get back to mak- ing connections with others.
“Business people love this event
“
mask is just part of the new normal. Even when masks weren’t required, we saw people wearing them anyway because it gave them more of a comfort level.”
nan said this business-friendly atti- tude helped everyone get through the pandemic.
“It’s going to take another year
or two for everybody, including the municipalities, to get back to where we were pre-COVID, but overall, I think we’ve done OK,” she added.
Even new businesses are starting
to open. Gray said Cheesy Street Grill is a new addition to Hampshire Mall.
It opened in August, with a focus on grilled cheese and other comfort foods.
Also at the mall, Autobahn, an indoor go-kart track, recently closed, but a new business, Fun Hub Action Park, will take over that space with trampolines, bounce houses, and party rooms. Gray said Fun Hub has begun the construction work to convert the space and expects to open in 2022.
When a new library was built, the town did not tear down the Goodwin
We speak of the new normal, and I think wearing a
because it typically draws from all over Pioneer Valley,” she said. “Lots of differ- ent businesses buy tables because they know they will meet people from all over the region.”
Pushing Through
At the height of COVID, when res- taurants were trying to stay afloat, officials in Hadley reduced license fees and made the process easier for serv- ing food and drinks outdoors. Bren-
That's A Wrap!
Joan Kagan
Lynn Gray says businesses are happy to comply with health protocols if it means staying open and serving the public.
Library and will instead look to mod- ernize the electrical system and other building infrastructure. The plan is to provide a meeting space and offices for every town board.
“Office space is very tight,” Brennan said. “With the rehab of Goodwin, we can make sure every board has suffi- cient space.”
The Russell School is another town- owned property that Brennan hopes
to reuse. More than 100 years old, the building is no longer safe. The town has applied for a grant from MassWorks for a reuse study to come up with a way to give the former school a new life.
“It would be great to see how we could use that building and keep it functional,” she said.
Pazmany said she likes to look for- ward, and noted that the chamber will continue to help its members navi- gate these uncertain times as much as possible.
“There are lots of people ready to
go out wearing their masks,” she said. “But we don’t want to go backwards.” u
14 SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
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