Salons, gyms, movie theaters may reopen in Northern Michigan June 10

From staff reports

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today that—as documented COVID-19 cases flatten—Regions 6 and 8 of Northern Michigan (which includes Leelanau County) are now in Phase 5 of the state’s plan to reopen. As such, hair salons, gyms and movie theaters may re-open, starting Wednesday, June 10.

That’s great news for Diane’s Hairstyling in Empire, which had planned to reopen on Friday, March 12, in expectation that this news was coming. Diane Aylsworth will stick with March 12 as her reopening date.

“We began calling our clients earlier this week, and they are very excited,” said Aylsworth. “They haven’t had haircuts in so long that some won’t even look in the mirror. This reopening is long overdue.”

On the other side of Leelanau County, Rick Andrews who is president of the Board of Directors of the the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay, is excited to hear that theaters are permitted to reopen in our region. But the Bay Theatre needs more time before it’s ready to do so.

“We have work to do,” said Andrews. “We need to make sure the theater is set up to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for consumers, with new seating patterns and sanitation practices. We’re not ready to announce anything.”

Another challenge for theaters everywhere is that Hollywood has postponed the release of summer blockbuster movies, which is what the Bay Theatre would typically play during high summer season in Suttons Bay.

“That presents the added issue of what we’d want to put in the theater,” said Andrews.