First Friday weekend resumes in the West Bottoms

First Friday weekend resumes in the West Bottoms

It was the first weekend back for vendors and shoppers alike in the West Bottoms.

JUST ACROSS THE STATELINE IN THE WESTBOTTOMS --TODAY IS THE FIRST TIMEMANY BUSINESSES HAVEBEEN OPEN IN MONTHS.41 ACTION NEWS VIDEOJOURNALIST JOHN BATTENHAS MORE IN A WE'REOPEN K-C REPORT.IT'S A PRETTY GOODCROWD FOR A FRIDAY.

THEWEST BOTTOMS HASN'TSEEN SOMETHING LIKTHIS FOR, WELL, A COUPLEOF MONTHS.

ABOUT THETIME SUSAN HARDING WASGOING TO OPEN HERSHOP, ACTUALLY.

SHE'SHAPPY TO FINALLY SEECUSTOMERS."IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN ITHOUGH IT WAS GOING TOBE."CHUCK MYERSVENDOR"IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEETHAT EVERYBODYCOMING OUT, I THINKTHERE'S A LOT OF PENT UPDEMAND.

PEOPLEWANTING TO GET OUT ANDSEE THINGS AND MAKESOME PURCHASES.'THE INDOOR/OUDOORCHARACTER OF THE AREAMAKES IT A LITTLE EASIERTO BE SAFE, ALLOWINGINDIVIDUAL BUSINESSESTO MONITOR THEIR OWNAREAS.AT GOOD JU JU, THEY FELTTHE TIME HAD COME TOREOPEN.

BUT SINCETHEY'RE FOLLOWING THERULES AND LIMITING TCROWD TO FIFTY PERCENTCAPACITY, THEY'REKEEPING AN EYE ONTHINGS.PAM KINNEYGOOD JU JU"we've required all of ourdealers to wear masks wehave told our customers thatmasks are appreciated -we'renot gonna force somebody todo it.

We've marked the lineson the floor for six feet forpaying for everything we'rkinda keeping everybody,we're keeping a close eye, yaknow kinda watching thenumbers as they come in."AND COME IN THEY HAVE.AND THAT MADE FOREMOTIONAL MOMENTS .PENNY SWEENEYGOOD JU JU"they started lining up about aquarter to eight.

And then theywent in front of the buildingand around to the back.

Sowe it was a little teary.

Itwas a little teary."SHOPPERS ARE HAPPY TOBE BACK IN THE DOOR,TOPATRICIA JOHNSONCUSTOMER"oh yes it's fun to seeeverything out and pick outwhat you want and it's nice."ALL OF IT HAS PEOPLETHINKING OF BETTERDAYS.AMBER ARNETT BEQUEAITHWEST BOTTOMS"feeling the energy from all tpeople coming to shop as wellas eat and just be outdoorsand enjoy life, absolutely thereis always hope."WHILE EVERYONE KNOWSTHERE ARE PROBLEMSSTILL TO BE FACED, THIS ISA CHANCE TO JUSTBREATHE,AND TO BE GRATEFUL THATTHEY CAN