Palisades Businesses Reveal Plans for Reopening

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter 

Following state and county guidelines, Los Angeles has taken steps toward reopening its economy after more than two months of being largely shutdown.

Over the last two weeks, Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced the approval of reopening non-essential businesses, including all retail, in-person dining, barbershops, hair salons and more—with restrictions and protocols in place.

As of Friday, May 29, both indoor and outdoor retail establishments are allowed to resume operations, so long as customers practice social distancing, face coverings are worn and business is at 50% capacity.

Shops in Palisades Village that reopened to shop in-store include A.L.C., Anine Bing, Brunello Cucinello, Tamara Mellon, Veronica Beard, Paige, Zimmermann and towne by elyse walker.

Though shifting again, Palisades Village closed beginning Monday, June 1, in order to board up and prevent looting. The development planned to remain closed on June 3, but plans beyond that were not established as the Palisadian-Post went to print Tuesday.

In-person dining is allowed but physical distance measures must be in place; reservations are encouraged and diners must wear cloth face coverings when not eating. For the next three weeks, occupancy will be limited to 60% capacity.

Additionally, the LA County Office of Education released a 45-page document offering a glimpse at school reopening guidelines for preschools through 12th grade on Wednesday, May 27.

“The … objective is to develop a planning framework based on current assumptions and conditions to assist Local Education Agencies with planning for the 2020-21 school year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the LACOE website.

The guidelines consider decreasing the number of students in a single classroom, and rearranging tables and chairs to be six feet apart. For younger students, the safe reopening could eliminate activities that physically draw students closer together.

Schools transitioned to distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year back in March, and learning centers throughout the Palisades have been operating virtually as well.

Amazing Music Store has been teaching lessons online for the last two months, including guitar, ukulele, piano, drums, violin and voice lessons.

Manager Patrick Hildebrand said Amazing Music Store hopes to open as soon as it’s safe to.

“We miss teaching people in-person … but being able to do it online is better than nothing, for sure,” Hildebrand said. “It’s good for people to do something creative and positive to make us feel better, nowadays especially.”

On March 12, the Academy of Technology, Art and Music went virtual as well, offering private lessons to children, teenagers and adults.

“We’re committed to the community 24/7, we have our space in the middle of the community,” Mary Wamble of ATAM said to the Post. “We know our community very well and have custom-tailored ourselves to them.”

A soft, appointment-only opening is in the works for ATAM, planned for the last week of June.

“We’re having a very small, limited capacity opening that’s by appointment only,” Wamble said. “For the people who want that socially distant, in-person experience, at a very limited number, we are going to be providing that.”

Wamble added that ATAM has helped hospitals by 3D printing protective plastic shields, and has 3D printed plastic shields for attendees and staff as well in preparation for its reopening. ATAM will be working in compliance with the CDC and city, monitoring temperatures, disinfecting and more.

This summer, Groza Learning Center will be offering an online camp with opportunities to work with an instructor individually or with a small group, at home or in-center.

“If the family will choose in-center camp, Groza Summer Camp will follow all necessary CDC, LA County and LA City rules and guidance to keep our campers and staff safe while providing camps full of fun and learning,” said Tatyana Yukhtman, director of Groza Learning Center.

Cases of COVID-19 across the county of Los Angeles reached 57,118 with 2,443 deaths as the Post went to print Tuesday evening. There were 57 positive cases in the Palisades, with four additional in Palisades Highlands.