From the end of last month New York’s Mayor started working on helping businesses in the same way that restaurants had been helped – by permitting them to open on the streets, outdoors (coronavirus guidelines being kept) and thus still being able to conduct sales.

This makes things much easier for the business owners.  Rather than until now, having to stand outside without the products for sale and try to encourage consumers to ask for what they want, this means they can just browse as they walk on the streets. They can set up tables outside and put up a temporary sign. Umbrellas can be used to guard against the elements, etc.  A path measuring eight feet however, must be made available for pedestrians to walk unimpeded.

Known as the Open Storefronts program, approximately 40,000 businesses in NYC are eligible to apply.