Josh Pritchfield pours a taster at Vagabond Brewing, 2195 Hyacinth St. N.E., on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A new phase of life began in Salem on Friday, May 22, with the lifting of restrictions on restaurants, bars and personal service businesses such as gyms and salons.
For two months, the city lived under a state order that closed businesses or restrained their practices as Oregon confronted COVID-19. Gov. Kate Brown last week gave Marion County permission to return the “Open” signs but key restrictions and cautions remained.
As the city sparked back to life, photographer Amanda Loman and reporter Jake Thomas of Salem Reporter took the community’s temperature through the day. They found businesses adjusting to new rules and customers happy to sit awhile instead of grab-and-go service that had kept some restaurants alive.
The city will operate under the loosened restrictions for three weeks. Another phase could come into play then in a phase that would allow larger gatherings.
Customers grab drinks at Vagabond Brewing, 2195 Hyacinth St. N.E., during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Don Lauritsen, right, of Salem, gets a drink with a friend at Vagabond Brewing during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Bella Malherbe writes out a chalkboard sign at The Kitchen on Court Street letting customers know about new procedures during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A sign along Southeast Liberty Street in downtown Salem on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A couple sits outside of Ritter’s Housemade Foods during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Marlene Blanchard, owner of Court Street Dairy Lunch, awaits the lunch crowd following a busy breakfast service during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Court Street Dairy Lunch advertises a lunch special during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Scott and Connie Sorensen grab a drink at The Night Deposit Whiskey Library with their dog, Lucy, during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. The pair recently moved back to Oregon from Florida during the pandemic. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A sign along Southeast Liberty Street in downtown Salem on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Russell Brand, owner of Oregon Tattoo Company in downtown Salem, tattoos Chynalyn Cantere during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A sign directs readers to a posting on COVID-19 at Oregon Tattoo Company on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Russell Brand, owner of Oregon Tattoo Company, tattoos Chynalyn Cantere during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Court Street Dairy Lunch advertises a lunch special during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
People walk along Southeast Commercial Street during the first phase of Salem’s reopening on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
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