Jordan Beck | Daily Press Delta County Clerk Nancy Przewrocki stands by a new wooden barrier separating two windows at the clerk's office in the Delta County Courthouse Thursday. The courthouse reopened to the public on May 18.

ESCANABA — As COVID-19-related restrictions in Michigan continue to be lifted, a number of local businesses have recently been able to reopen.

Some restaurants in the area are once again serving dine-in customers. Among these restaurants is AppleWood Eatery & Espresso Bar, owned by Macy Neumeier.

“I reopened this past Tuesday,” Neumeier said.

Business at AppleWood has been strong in the past few days. While takeout has been a popular option, Neumeier said many of her customers are glad to be able to eat at restaurants again.

“People are so happy to feel a sense of normality,” she said.

Some adjustments have been made at AppleWood in response to COVID-19.

“I’ve had to remove several tables,” Neumeier said.

Along with this, hand sanitizer and hand wipes are now provided for customers at AppleWood, employees are required to wear masks — along with gloves for the restaurant’s cooks — and the restaurant is being cleaned regularly throughout the day.

While AppleWood was closed, Neumeier was also able to make some tweaks to its menu and hours. The restaurant is now open seven days a week. Previously, it was closed on Sundays. A new brunch menu is available on weekends, as well.

Rick Smith, owner of Orange Cat Antiques, said his store reopened around May 1.

“We opened a little while before (Gov. Gretchen Whitmer) told us we could open, because I figure we’re essential,” he said.

According to Smith, he determined this was the case because his store sells tools, kitchen utensils and clothing, among other items.

So far, Smith said the public reaction to his store’s reopening has been positive.

“They’ve got a place to go besides the big-box stores,” he said.

Business at Orange Cat has been slower than normal for this time of year. Smith noted that about 80 percent of customers at his store during the summer months are tourists.

Although tourism in the area has decreased significantly, Smith said the reopening of the Island Resort and Casino has helped in this regard.

“People from all over the country are coming to our casino,” he said.

Butch Frank, an employee at Orange Cat, said the store has taken some measures to protect its customers.

“We’ve got the X’s on the floor for distancing,” he said.

Orange Cat also has bottles of hand sanitizer placed throughout the store. The store’s front counter, door handles and bathrooms are all being cleaned on a regular basis.

People shopping at Orange Cat are not required to wear masks.

“It’s up to the individual whether they want to wear a mask or not,” Frank said, noting he believes people have the right to make their own decisions regarding masks.

While he was very disheartened to see some area businesses struggling and even closing permanently due to COVID-19, Frank said he was glad that Orange Cat has been able to reopen.

“We’re going to try to make it,” he said.

Some government offices in Michigan have reopened to the public, as well. This includes the Delta County Courthouse, which closed to the public on March 18 and reopened on May 18.

While the courthouse is now partially open, County Administrator Emily DeSalvo said the courts remain closed to the general public. As of Thursday, the courts were waiting for approval from the State Court Administrator’s Office and the Supreme Court on their Preparedness Plan to reopen.

County Clerk Nancy Przewrocki said business at her office never completely stopped.

“In the clerk’s office, we continued to be staffed by one person each day,” she said.

This was done so the office could still help people over the phone and via email.

According to Przewrocki, many people are still choosing to do business with the clerk’s office remotely. However, some functions handled by her office — including concealed pistol licenses and notary applications — require people to get signatures from the office in person.

“We are seeing the public for those,” she said.

Multiple safety measures have been implemented at the Delta County Courthouse. Visitors to and employees of the courthouse must fill out a screening questionnaire and have their temperature checked before entering, courthouse employees are required to wear masks when dealing with other people, hand sanitization stations have been set up throughout the courthouse and plexiglass barriers have been installed.

In addition, a wooden barrier separating the clerk’s office’s two windows has been established.

“In order to use both windows, we have to have something there,” Przewrocki said.

Przewrocki thanked the other employees of the clerk’s office for their hard work over the past few months.

“My staff has done an excellent job stepping up and helping to serve the public,” she said.