There has been a lot of outdoor news in the Mile Square these past few weeks — the City piloted “open streets,” outdoor dining was permitted to resume via parklets and sidewalk cafes, and much more. Today, we’ve got another piece of news to add to that ever-growing list — the Hoboken Business Alliance will be hosting a pilot of its “Summer Streets” program on June 28th. Here are the details:
About “Summer Streets”
The “Summer Streets” pilot is a part of the Hoboken Business Alliance’s {HBA} #GoBoken campaign, which is “the HBA’s city-wide, summer-long initiative encouraging the community to go now and help support Hoboken businesses in any way they can,” according to a press release. The goal of the campaign is to, essentially, encourage local residents to support Hoboken businesses while coinciding with the gradual reopening of outdoor dining and retail stores across the state. “Summer Streets” is its kick-off event.
The pilot event will be on Sunday, June 28th from 11:00AM-8:00PM and will be happening down 1st Street in Hoboken. The goal of the pilot is to create “new opportunities for businesses to expand their footprint and connect with customers in a safe and meaningful way,” according to Gregory Dell’Aquila, president of the HBA.
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On the day of the event, the street will only be open to pedestrian traffic from Washington Street to Clinton Street, with the intention being to encourage residents “to explore and support the diverse mix of shops, stores, and restaurants in the 1st Street neighborhood” while following social distancing guidelines. The day-long event will also feature a variety of tables set up along the street for restaurants to utilize for diners, as well as shopping displays of items available for purchase from a variety of shops.
“These are challenging times for small businesses and it’s critical that we continue to find ways to support the local Hoboken community,” Dell’Aquila said about the pilot.
After this event, the HBA is planning to extended “Summer Streets” over the course of the next eight weeks.
About the HBA
The HBA is a branch of the City of Hoboken that was created with the intention of supporting the local community. The alliance works to provide “a safe, accessible, and prosperous business district that attracts residents and visitors to shop, eat, play, and stay in Hoboken,” according to the aforementioned press release.
The board of directors for the HBA includes a range of business and property owners in Hoboken, including the previously mentioned president, Dell’Aquila.
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The Bigger Picture
Of course, this news comes just a few weeks after the City launched its first few “open streets” pilot programs, which had a goal of creating more space to promote social distancing. The first pilot happened on Jefferson Street back in May, followed by closures on Adams Street, 10th Streets, and Park Avenue.
Even more so, “Summer Streets” is happening soon after the news that beauty businesses and retail businesses can slowly begin to reopen following executive orders from NJ Governor Phil Murphy.
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