Reshaping
How We Work, Live, and Thrive TODAY IN SARATOGA WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN
I
don’t know anyone in the world who wanted to close their doors amid this horrific pandemic. It’s a terrifying thought – to lose connections in the face-to-face retail setting when doors are locked, and ‘closed’ signs are all around you. Customers are the lifeline of businesses here in town – the warm and welcoming faces when we enter a store to shop an item are tantamount to a great experience that brings us back again and again. This pandemic is relentless in upending our brick-and-mortar landscape, while state-mandated warnings of in-person interactions abound. And, as we all know, Saratoga is all about close, personal contact with visitors and residents alike. We love to get to know people – shake a hand, touch an arm, hug a stranger who’s quickly become a friend. Unfortunately, none of us knows when things will calm down and return to any sort of normalcy again. Changing habits during this pandemic is hard – I, for one, love to walk into my favorite shops, pick up a book, taste a sample, try on a dress, handle a crystal, then pull out my wallet. On the next page you’ll learn about a few of my go-to local places. The various ways shopkeepers are keeping in touch with visitors and loyal customers are pretty creative. I’m impressed.
12 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | MAY/JUNE 2020
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