It’s been a tough few months for businesses at Point Pleasant Beach, which is preparing a wave of reopenings.
Owners of Point Lobster Bar & Grill launched their business in February but were quickly shutdown by coronavirus restrictions and forced to lay off some workers.
Owner Shannon Godwin rehired a dozen of those employees to help with pick up orders. Now, they are consider rehiring more as they begin setting up tents in their parking lot ahead of Monday’s Phase 2 reopening.
"I think it's a great step in the right direction,” said Godwin.
She hopes indoor dining will open soon so they can “have a real summer.”
John Fernacola, who owns the Amethyst Beach Motel, says he's beginning to see an increase in demand for lodging. However, he says nearly one-quarter of his rooms are currently being occupied by long-term rentals from the winter who cannot be evicted under orders of the state.
“They're keeping rooms that would otherwise be sold to people who give us an income," he told News 12.
Fernicola and his manager were both charged with four counts of committing an unlawful act while under the governor's state of emergency for allegedly forcing their renters to pay their rent or leave.
According to the state Supreme Court, no evictions are allowed through Sunday, June 14.