Boston businesses ready for new chapter without restrictions

BOSTON — Businesses across Boston are ready for a comeback after a rollercoaster of restrictions over the last two years.

The city’s mask mandate officially expired on Saturday, March 5th, and businesses are looking at it as a new beginning.

Some expect more people from the suburbs and other New England states will be coming into the city for leisure and other activities.

At the Beehive in Boston’s South End, there’s also a noticeable difference in the number of job applications coming in.

“It feels like more people are applying now than ever,” said manager Jodi Varraso. “A lot of people wouldn’t come back to work maybe because they had to wear a mask. I think more people will be willing to work in restaurants again.”

Some businesses are starting to expand hours approaching the spring and summer.

Others are getting ready to reopen their doors for the first time in two years.

“It’s liberating. We know there is life on the other side. There are good things happening,” said Shawn Couter, manager at Beat Brew Hall in Cambridge.

Beat Brew Hall in Cambridge temporarily closed in March of 2020 and hasn’t reopened since.

Couter told Boston 25 News the business is planning on finally welcoming customers back in early April.

“It feels like being able to run full speed after you’ve been sitting for two years,” said Couter.

There’s also a new sense of normalcy on college campuses in the city.

Many of the colleges and universities in the Boston area removed their indoor mask mandates over the weekend in alignment with Boston.

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