Tuesday Wasn’t a Snow Day for Everyone in Boston
Not everyone in Boston had a snow day Tuesday. If you didn’t get to stock up on food or booze before the storm and had to venture out, be thankful that these workers walked through the snow for you.
Around 60 bars and restaurants were open throughout the city, but with the MBTA suspending service, customers — and the employees serving them – had to walk through the snow-covered streets.
“We were lucky in that most people live within a block away,’’ said Ryan Swann, Back Bay Social Club manager. “Everyone was pretty excited to come in. We didn’t have anything else to do.’’
The restaurant was open regular hours, and though it was slow in the morning, Swann said that it did get busier throughout the day. Still, it was stagnant enough that bartender Christopher Laudani could shovel the Boston Marathon finish line in the meantime.
City Feed & Supply in Jamaica Plain was also open all day and experienced a rush as one of the only businesses open on Centre Street.
“We got a lot of thanks,’’ said Jason Cuzzupe, manager of the Centre Street location. “I think that it was a good service to the local community for people to come in, get a nice warm drink when there wasn’t much available.’’
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Cuzzupe didn’t risk his employees’ safety just to serve some food, however. He noted that it was a volunteer effort, and workers responded to an email from the owner asking if anyone was available to come in.
Damian Dowling, part-owner of The Abbey, actually shuttled employees to the Brookline and Cambridge locations, despite the driving ban.
“I knew there was an exception if you owned a business and needed to get there, so I was the loophole. Everyone stayed over somewhere local, and I picked up about eight people in my SUV,’’ Dowling said. “Those who could walk, walked, but we only asked employees who could get here safely.’’
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Dowling was concerned about his customers’ safety as well, noting that since everyone was walking home, they felt as if they could drink more. It was worth it to open; Dowling thinks the business during the blizzard was on par with a busy Saturday night.
“We were the only restaurants in both locations that were open, which I found surprising, because they’re such walking neighborhoods anyway,’’ Dowling said. “People were thanking us [for being open], and shaking our hands, and I was like, ‘Thanks for coming in!’’’
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Dowling had fun despite not getting his own snow day. He equated the mood there last night to St. Patrick’s Day, and said that people were very jovial.
But not every job was enjoyable during the storm. For essential employees, there was more of an expectation to trudge through the snow, regardless of distance. Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston shared a photo of one pathology technician who snowshoed her way in.
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Another doctor cross-country skied to the hospital. Healthcare employees also received aid getting to work by the Boston police. Police Commissioner Bill Evans told WCVB that he personally drove doctors and nurses during the height of the storm.
So, did you venture out to one of the open businesses yesterday? (Hopefully not any of the hospitals..)
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