O’Scanlon, DiMaso and Scharfenberger call for reopening small gift shops in time for Mother’s Day

Middletown Jewelry and Junction Boutique Gift Shop, Belford

Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-Monmouth) called on the Murphy administration to allow for a limited reopening of small gift shops and jewelry stores in advance of Mother’s Day.

“Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend and many small local shops rely heavily on these holidays for their business. The Administration needs to strongly consider reopening small gift shops with social distancing protocols similar to food stores; 50 percent capacity, masks, and social distancing. Or even allow them to consider a curbside gift pickup option. In addition, jewelry stores should be allowed to open with a 50 percent capacity limitation.

“We know that many families will not be able to gather like they normally would with their mothers, daughters, and grandmothers and we respect the need for that social distancing to continue. But many could drop a present off at Mom’s doorstep safely.

“With our curve flattened and hospitalizations trending downward we really need to consider our small business community, particularly the ones that see a substantial uptick in revenue from holidays like Mother’s Day.”

Chris Slater, manager of Junction Boutique, a consortium of New Jersey artisans located in the Belford section of Middletown told MMM that her store would be ready if the Murphy administration allows for reopening. The boutique is selling soaps, hand sanitizer and masks at the shop during the shut down and doing online and telephone sales of other gifts.