A year after the pandemic shuttered downtowns, causing ripples of worry about possible lasting impacts on the Island economy, business is bouncing back.
A recent survey of 28 businesses in downtown Edgartown shows the pandemic continues to have widespread and often dire impacts on Island commercial districts.
Although an annual rite of passage, the quest for summer employees has grown more extreme and spread wider this year, driven by a perfect storm of factors including and a housing crisis at its peak.
Vincent’s Paper Store in Vineyard Haven, for generations a landmark at the corner of Main and Center streets, is about to be moved to the Call Block, so called, the location of the summer shop known as Ken-Ward. Anthony Oliver, managing owner, announced the date for removal this week, as of Dec. 1. It was no surprise locally, as the new location has been in process of being readied for some weeks.
Shuttered for months — and in some cases a year — Vineyard restaurants, retailers and grocery stores are opening their doors for the season again with hope for a more normal spring and summer.
With the Covid-19 pandemic raging, the normally quiet down-Island Main streets have turned ghostly, as the off-season tests the Vineyard winter economy and social fabric.
The owners of Island Food Products have signed a purchase and sale agreement to buy the historic Oak Bluffs grocery Tony’s Market, marking a first foray into retail for IFP.
Leslie’s Drug Store, the family-run pharmacy in downtown Vineyard Haven that was due to close at the end of the year, will be able to stay open after all, the owners confirmed.
