Business encourages by capacity

Christy Bollinger story at 5p

C1 3 after the coronavirus pandemic forced a shutdown.

And it has been a slowprocess.

But as abc 36's alex king found out, getting to 50 percent capacity this week has brought some encouraging signs.

L3: coronavirus outbreak white business encouraged by increase in capacity lexington l3: coronavirus outbreak white greg higgins baker and president, magees bakery ..

Greg higgins: its just a challenge.

During quarantine magees bakery was strictly curbside.

Like so many businesses, baker and president greg higgins says it was a struggle.

Greg higgins: we werent sure of what peoples habits were.

Everything changed.

You didnt know how many people were going to show up, if anybody was going to show up and because of business you kind of have a cycle.

Most businesses have a cycle, they know when theyre going to be busy based on history but there is no history for this.

During cold weather, people aren't out as much ...but when it's warmer, outdoor seating is an attraction...the reopening came at a perfect time...tables are at an acceptable distance...xs on the floor help people keep six feet apart.

And there is outdoor seating.

Greg higgins: the overflow with the weather being nice is a huge help.

As people adapt to the new normal.

Higgins says business is picking up... he says the bakery was down 60% in revenue.

So now every customer helps.

Greg higgins: the rhythm of different events happening really drives out business.

If theres a football game in town, if keenelands open, if theres something out of the horse park, horse sales.

Those things havent been happening so even though accounting for that lack of those events weve been doing very well in terms of customer count.

The struggle has been difficult, not just financially but also mentally...recogniz ing that, higgins is giving his staff a break next week, paying them to be off... alex king, abc 36 news.

To other news now.

State police say they are