8 FEBRUARY 25, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Glendale’s biz owner in ‘better spirits’ with reopening approaching
G. Mermigis in the Onondaga County
Supreme Court on Feb. 4, alleges that
the state of New York and Cuomo have
“arbitrarily” allowed businesses to open
following their executive order of a statewide
shutdown in March 2020.
The lawsuit’s 45 plaintiff s, including
indoor adventure parks, trampoline
parks, arcades, laser tag centers and
other indoor entertainment venues
from across the state, claim the ongoing
pandemic restrictions imposed on their
businesses has caused “immense harm”
as their businesses “crumble.”
They added the restrictions coupled
with a lack of guidance from the state
are particularly unfair when compared
to the reopenings of gyms, casinos, bowling
alleys and other indoor businesses in
months prior.
The suit also alleges that the ongoing
shutdown “has not been based on data
or analysis” of the businesses’ ability to
employ COVID-19 protocols endorsed
by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).
In response to the lawsuit, a Cuomo
administration spokesman said some
higher-risk industries didn’t fi t neatly
into the state’s phased reopening and
that they were monitoring how and when
they can safely reopen, in a statement to
Newsday.
While D’Amico doesn’t think the lawsuit
was in direct correlation to the state’s
reopening announcement, he says many
factors may have contributed to it, such
as their group’s lobbying fi rm and other
state’s reopening eff orts.
Five months ago, D’Amico spoke about
the fi nancial hardships the family-run
business has endured while being forced
to remain closed, including laying off
more than 100 of their employees and
losing more than $1 million in revenue.
D’Amico showcased the safety measures
they implemented at their location
in the Shops at Atlas Park (they have
another on Long Island that’s also been
shuttered) in response to the pandemic.
Their measures include a thermal imaging
scanning system for contactless
temperature checks, Merv-13 air fi lters,
plexiglass to separate counter workers
from guests, six-feet distance markers,
masks requirements for guests and
staff , additional hand sanitizing stations
and increased disinfection of high-touch
areas, among other plans.
The new state guidelines for attraction
venues to reopen outlines similar safety
requirements, and adds that facilities
must submit their reopening plans
with health protocols to the local health
department.
D’Amico said he’s glad they fi nally received
guidance, but that he isn’t “thrilled”
about the 25 percent capacity cap.
“It’s going to be diffi cult to pay the bills
with that,” he said.
D’Amico, who previously received a
PPP loan and a Small Business Administration
loan, said he hopes federal and
local elected offi cials will include the
attractions industry in grants moving
forward.
In the meantime, Laser Bounce Family
Fun Center will celebrate the restrictions
being lift ed by hosting a grand reopening
in March. Tickets will be available at the
beginning of the month.
“The biggest hurdle we have is showing
our customers we’re safer and cleaner
than ever,” D’Amico said. “Just from
social media alone, the support has been
amazing.”
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
The state’s announcement that
amusement parks and indoor
family entertainment centers can
open with limited capacity next month
comes weeks aft er several dozen businesses,
including Laser Bounce Family
Fun Center in Glendale, fi led a lawsuit
against the state in order to reopen.
Indoor family entertainment centers
can open for business at 25 percent
capacity starting March 26, and outdoor
amusement parks can open at 33
percent capacity starting April 9. Gov.
Andrew Cuomo announced the pending
reopenings during a press conference
on Wednesday, Feb. 17, citing the steady
decline in the virus positivity rate and
hospitalizations in New York.
Laser Bounce’s co-owner and general
manager Ryan D’Amico told QNS he’s in
“better spirits” now that they have a set
date for reopening and guidance to look
forward to.
But, he added that the lawsuit hasn’t
been dropped as of Monday, Feb. 22,
as they await to see the full written
guidance.
“Unfortunately, we were left with no
other option,” D’Amico said. “We did not
want to do that.”
The lawsuit, fi led by attorney James
Laser Bounce Family Fun Center at the Shops at Atlas Park implemented COVID-19 safety measures.
Angélica Acevedo/QNS
Ridgewood
Property Owners
& Civic Association
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