ISHPEMING — Businesses in western Marquette County are working through the steps they need to take to open up safely.

Some essential businesses have remained open throughout the pandemic and already had policies and procedures in place, but others are working to adapt to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders that allowed a partial reopening of bars, restaurants, retail stores and offices in Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula on May 22 with certain safety measures in place.

“We are really in the very, very beginning stages of opening,” GINCC Executive Director Bob Hendrickson said. “Pharmacies and grocery stores have been in it since the beginning — putting up wellness glasses, protective sneeze guards. The hard part for businesses that are just getting into it (is that) they have to kind of adjust to it. There are a lot of screening procedures…that have to be put in place. There is not as much a push to get people in it (to businesses) there is just a push to understand what we need to do to adapt to this environment.”

Cognition Brewery is one of those businesses that is preparing to open up with some changes in place. Cognition Brewery owner Jay Clancey said the pub has a plan to put before the Ishpeming City Council for review on Wednesday.

He is asking the city to close off Maple Street, where the business would put up a tent, enclosing an area roughly 25 feet by 70 feet.

“We will have 10 to 12 plastic picnic tables with attached benches that will comfortably seat six,” Clancey said.

“They will be easy to sanitize between parties. We may take reservations as well as taking walk-ups.”

He said there will be no service offered inside Cognition for now, but there will be bathroom facilities set up outside and the women’s bathroom will be open for customers inside.

“There will be one employee outside at all times and ordering will still be available at the window. No cash transactions and touch-free credit card processing will provide for safe payments. Tipping with cash will be appreciated, as well as by card.” Clancey said. “Our goal is to create an environment that will make everyone feel at ease. Being able to have an outdoor area until the end of October is an unexpected bonus and we hope it will be a big hit.”

Hendrickson said guidance on how to reopen is available to local businesses on the Small Business Administration Michigan website at www.sba.gov/local-resources/michigan or the Michigan Chamber of Commerce at www.michamber.com/coronavirus-toolkit.

“There are a lot of templates that have been created by the state chamber of commerce and SBAM. It’s important, because you just don’t have the documentation necessary to open up. You have to know what the documents mean,” he said.

Hendrickson also said GINCC is a program partner in the Lake Superior Community Partnership’s “Love on Local” gift card program.

The plan encourages purchasing from local small businesses by offering consumers gift cards that can be used at small businesses in Marquette County that accept Visa cards, Hendrickson said.

“It gives businesses an opportunity to engage customers to buy ahead a gift card that can be used at local businesses,” Hendrickson said. “The whole philosophy of spending your money locally, is it keeps circulating in the local economy.”

He said he supported the methodical way businesses and customers have approached reopening efforts.

“I think a good thing is the patience of the consumers and the people who are opening back up,” Hendrickson said. “It is not going to be like (a) switch. Things may be awkward or change down the road, but we are doing the best we can with what we have.”

Lisa Bowers can be reached at lbowers@miningjournal.net