One year ago, the lives of everyone in Berks and beyond changed in ways no one expected. The global COVID-19 pandemic seemed to cause the whole world to stand still. But despite the shutdowns and limitations, Berks County businesses adapted to continue providing our favorite local products and services. Here’s how some of our beloved Berks businesses pivoted over the last year.
Animal Rescue League of Berks County
Birdsboro
The ARL has embraced a lot of new technology to help local residents find their new best friend/quarantine buddy. They’ve added video to their online pet bios so you can see what each resident is like in action from the comfort of home, or you can head to the center where they have established virtual lines to ensure you can meet and greet from a safe distance. Step outside to spend some time getting to know a new dog or join an adoption counselor at the League’s new outdoor “catio,” where adopters can meet and pet cats and kittens through a fence while remaining a safe distance from the counselors. berksarl.org
Bella Jules Fashion Boutique
West Reading
Shoppers can now stay on-trend with the latest fashions from home. Bella Jules has taken the boutique shopping experience online with emailed style picks of the week, gift guides and promotions. Check out @bellajules700 on Facebook for live videos of new arrivals, trends and sales. Need to try it on? The boutique is open at a reduced capacity for in-store shopping. All clothing is steamed and sanitized before returning to the floor, fitting rooms are wiped down after each use, and air purifiers run day and night in every room of the shop. After hours, the whole place is sanitized using UV light so it’s fresh and clean for fashion lovers each day. bellajulesboutique.com
Berks History Center
Reading
Local history buffs are staying connected with all new “History at Home” programming. The museum’s monthly lecture series has moved online, and they’ve added tons of digital content and forums for all ages on their site and across social media at @berkshistory. And while the museum and library are still open (by appointment only), they’re taking much of their programming outside. The second Berks History Road Ramble — a driving tour of some of the county’s most historic places — is taking place this spring, and as the weather warms you can join them for guided hikes and barn tours to experience local history in a whole new way. berkshistory.org
Coastal Grille & Austin’s Restaurants
Wyomissing & West Lawn
Limited indoor seating? No problem at these local hot spots. They’re bringing the indoors out with all-weather heated tents to provide additional socially-distanced dining. If you prefer your meals to go, Coastal Grille and Austin’s have dedicated carry-out staff ready to deliver your favorite menu items right to your car, with contactless delivery to your back seat or trunk available. These restaurants have also added a number of carry-out only weekly specials so customers can enjoy their favorite foods from the comfort of home. coastalgrille.com |
Colonial Hills Sports & Fitness Centers
Sinking Spring
Staying active from home wasn’t a challenge for Colonial Hills’ members. Their Virtual Fitness Group Challenge helped members stay motivated with online classes. Emailed fitness tips and recipes helped keep everyone healthy while the center was closed. Now that the building is open again, they are implementing every protocol they can to keep people safe. Visitors are temperature checked upon entry and will find plexiglass partitions, enhanced sanitizing practices and limited group sizes to ensure proper social fitness-ing. chbsports.com
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts
Reading
Carry-out isn’t just for restaurants! The GoggleWorks has developed Creative Carryout classes that combine online tutorial videos with pre-packaged material kits to ensure students have everything they need to create at their fingertips. The kits take all of the guesswork out of fused glass, ceramic and printmaking projects at home and provide a much-needed creative escape. The incredible staff at the center has also developed new tour experiences and private movie and video-game events, and the ASAP After School Arts Program has hit record enrollment, giving local kids the opportunity to experience the arts at a crucial time. goggleworks.org
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Reading
When everything changed for the local business community, the GRCA sprang into action. In addition to moving all events and programming to virtual platforms, they have also incorporated new check-in sessions to keep members up-to-date on the latest restrictions and regulations. No matter your age or technical background, the GRCA has you covered with tutorials and guides to ease the transition online, and the dedicated staff is keeping things fresh with new online platforms to combat Zoom burnout. They’re currently offering several free events each week, with all content aimed at helping businesses pivot successfully. And while their virtual programming is here to stay, the Alliance hopes to begin phasing in small-scale hybrid events in 2021. greaterreading.org
Ismile Pod Photo Booths
Douglassville
Virtual events have helped everyone stay connected over the last year, and no event is complete without a few photos. Dave Stephenson has taken his photo booth business online, allowing people to upload their own photos to an online gallery that can be shared from anywhere. Get fun, framed photos — even prints! — from your next virtual get-together or use the technology to keep in touch with customers in a creative new way. ismilepod.com
Judy’s On Cherry
Reading
In addition to implementing standard safety precautions like sanitizing stations, masks and social distancing, Judy’s on Cherry has also upgraded its ventilation system to include hospital-grade HEPA filters and a state-of-the-art UV light system that scrubs the air as it is returned to diners. Daily use of a sanitizing fogging device further ensures guest safety and peace of mind. The restaurant has also invested in movable plexiglass panels that allow the staff to configure new seating arrangements quickly and easily, so you will never feel claustrophobic in their famously spacious environment! judysoncherry.com
Paisley & Company
Kutztown
Kutztown’s favorite fragrance bar may not be open for in-store shopping, but that doesn’t mean you need to go without! Owner Joanne Lapic has created a walk-up window and outdoor seating area where shoppers can browse the Paisley catalog and safely sample products (and sniff mask-free!) much like they did when shopping in-store. The window also makes purchases and curbside order pick-ups a breeze. And thanks to a surge in online orders, the shop has established a new standard for shipping including a dedicated shipping station and $5 flat rate for delivery anywhere in the country. paisleyandcompany.com
Reading Dermatology
West Lawn
At Reading Dermatology, patient safety is their top priority. For in-office visits, each patient is prescreened for symptoms before check-in. Numerous changes have been made in the office to ensure limited wait times and maximum social distancing are in place, and each exam room is thoroughly sanitized between patients. For those wanting to stay safely at home, or who are away at college, each of Reading Dermatology’s providers is also offering telemedicine visits throughout the day to fit each patient’s busy schedule. readingderm.com
Salute Ristorante Italiano
Sinking Spring
Fans of Salute’s family-style dining rejoice! The restaurant is now offering more than a dozen family meal options to go. Favorites like their chicken parmesan and homemade ravioli are paired with salad and bread for four at special carryout-only prices. Missing their signature martinis and other craft cocktails? Salute’s entire menu of mixed drinks is also available to go. Each drink is mixed fresh to order; all you need to do when you get home is add ice and enjoy. saluteristorante.com
Sorrelli Jewelry
Kutztown
The Sorrelli team started making masks right away last March, but import restrictions made it difficult to get them to customers, so they shifted their focus to fashion. After all, if everyone has to wear masks they may as well be fabulous! Sorrelli offers a full line of magnetic mask embellishments to make any mask you own feel more special, and the business also created necklaces that double as mask chains to keep your face covering handy. While customers can now shop in-store, you can also browse from home at exclusive “Sorrelli Flagship SuperFans” Facebook live events. sorrelli.com
