If you haven't come across Wayfair garden furniture before, you're in for a serious treat this afternoon. Especially if like us you're after a stylish space that can make your dreams of a summer spent lounging in the garden a reality, even on a budget.

We have rounded up our favourite Wayfair garden furniture picks to get your garden heatwave ready. We're talking loungers, parasols, dining sets, gazebos and more, all of which are great quality and super stylish.

For more of the best garden furniture head to our buying guide. Or, bag yourself more bargains with our round up of the best garden furniture sales.

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Cosmos Right Arm Sectional Piece with Cushions | Was 1,579.99, Now 1,139.99 at WayfairWe think the L-shape of this garden sofa makes it the perfect spot to spend time with family and (once lockdown is lifted) with friends too. We love the combination of the neutral coloured fabric with rattan for a stylish finish that's sure to work in most outdoor spaces.View Deal

Marks and Spencer UK (Paused)

Cambridge 8 Rattan Garden...

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Reclining Sun Lounger | Was 197.99 now 177.99 at WayfairHow cool is this sun lounger! And it's on sale. We love the boho look, it would look fab with some outdoor cushions thrown on just to make it a bit comfier for lounging. It's made out of solid bamboo which is really durable and strong but also lightweight so you can drag it around your garden to chase the rays.View Deal

Today's best deals on garden seating

Garden Trading Hampstead Bench

Amazonas Belize Hanging Chair

RAVEN Teak And Metal 3 Seater...

KETTLER LaMode Comfort...

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Isabelle Cotton Hammock |109.99 at WayfairNothing is quite as relaxing as chilling in a hammock with a good book. Close your eyes and you could almost, just almost, be on holiday. Wayfair have loads of hammocks to suit all budgets but we couldn't resist the macrame detail on this one. We were also thinking after the summer it would look so cool in a bedroom or living room, too.View Deal

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5 Seater Sofa Set | Was 1,599.99, Now 1,069.99 at WayfairWe've seen outdoor living rooms all over Pinterest in recent months. And given the combination of gorgeous weather and, well, not really having anywhere else to go, we can't say we're surprised. The best outdoor living rooms usually boast extra features such as garden sofas, garden coffee tables, outdoor rugs and outdoor cushions that give them the comfy, cosy feel. And we don't think this stunning five seater sofa set could be more perfect.View Deal

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3m x 3m Metal Patio Gazebo | 226.99 at WayfairWhat a total bargain this is! If you have got the room we couldn't recommend a gazebo enough. This one is so beautiful too and would add a lovely romantic vibe to your room ah we can see it now, sat underneath this gazebo, a floppy hat and a champagne cocktail. Marvellous darling.View Deal

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Amazonia 3m Cantilever Parasol | 108.99 at WayfairA parasol is great addition to a garden, especially during a heatwave as you can still enjoy the warmth, but be out of the sun. They are also great for popping your salad buffet under when you are having a BBQ.View Deal

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Kincade 2 Seater Bistro Set | 125.99 at WayfairBistro sets are a great option if you're kitting out a small garden patio, or perhaps even a balcony. Not only does their delicate design mean they won't overwhelm an already small space, but the ability to fold them away when you're done using them makes for an easy storage option where you need it most!View Deal

Today's best Bistro sets deals

Lingfield Wood Bistro Set

The Garden Furniture Centre...

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LATEST: Wayfair garden furniture is on sale and these are the best buys - Real Homes

AS thousands of flights and holidays remain cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Mail is reminiscing on its favourite destination weddings and proposals.

Zoey Halliwell-Bousfield, 38, who works at Lakeland in Windermere, and Simon Bousfield, a Barclays area manager escaped to the Mediterranean for their dream wedding abroad.

The couple jetted off to a secret intimate wedding in Cyprus before tying the knot with their loved ones back home in the South Lakes.

We have a blended family and wanted to get married with just the children abroad, Mrs Halliwell-Bousfield said. We just told them we were going on holiday then said at the airport, were going to get married in Cyprus. The wedding was lovely. It was just us seven in a little gazebo on the beach. It was all about our families coming together as one. Two weeks later the pair had another wedding back home in Kendal.

Lisa Brotheridge, 41, and her husband, Gavin Southward, 40, also said I do in the idyllic backdrop of the Cyprus landscape. Lisa said: We spent 10 days out there with family and friends and just had the best time.

We both wanted a small gathering in the sunshine and decided Cyprus was the perfect place.

However, the pair wanted to ensure any guests who were unable to attend the ceremony could come to an evening do back home. Mrs Southward said: I put my wedding dress back on and did it all over again.

Tatiana Baez, 26, an accommodation officer at a language school, and Lucas Saunders, 26, who owns a family business, crossed continents, cultures and climates to be together in their magical winter wonderland wedding.

Mr Saunders popped the question in his wifes home country of Puerto Rico during a romantic holiday.

She said: We were on the beach one night watching the sun go down when he suddenly asked me."

For their big day, the pair chose to tie the knot at the Abbey House Hotel in Barrow in front of 80 people with another 40 people joining them in the evening.

Laura Heavyside, 29, a marketing manager originally from Walney, and Antony Lavender, 31, an air operations supervisor from Hertfordshire, got engaged during a trip to New York.

Mrs Lavender said: We were in Central Park and I was enthralled by the skyline, the views were amazing and he was trying to get my attention by talking to me but I was too busy staring at the sky. I turned around and he was on one knee. It was absolutely amazing. I was crying with happiness and excitement.

The pair said I do at Storrs Hall in Bowness-on-Windermere.

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The Mail looks back on some of our favourite destination weddings and proposals - NW Evening Mail

Sarah Colburn, Special to the Times Published 5:44 p.m. CT May 29, 2020

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Brick and iron gates set the tone for this stately two-story home on 152 feet of Sauk River waterfront.

Complete with a turret design and sky-reaching two-story front archway, this home exudes curb appeal.

Just inside the double entry doors is a dramatic and sweeping two-story foyer with a large chandelier and an overhead catwalk flanked by floor-to-ceiling columns, grounded and warmed by the homes hardwood flooring and dark trim work.

The two-story great room ahead offers floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall arched windows that mimic the entry and present views of the mature trees and the river beyond. The picturesque great room is complete with built-in bookcases and a large, ornate fireplace and hearth. French doors open to the outdoor patio and the room is open to the overhead catwalk.

The gourmet kitchen is finished in a dark wood offset by the stainless steel appliances. A large cooktop and prep island offers breakfast bar seating, and built-in buffets and cabinetry create the perfect space for a wine bar and an in-room desk area. The space is home to a large informal eating area that overlooks the landscape.

The kitchen opens to the formal dining room with its decorative ceiling, crown molding and wainscoting. This space, featuring built-in decor areas, is perfect for hosting friends and family.

Opposite the dining room is a living room that can double as a music space or a relaxation area. The main floor also boasts a media room.

The exercise room is on the upper level,as is the master bedroom suite. The home also has a sauna. The suite is accessed through French doors and has a tray ceiling. The en suite is spacious with a dedicated vanity area, a large soaking tub and walk-in shower. The master bedroom also has a walk-in closet.

This home sits just off the Sauk River and the backyard slopes down to the waterfront which connects to the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes and offers more than 30 miles of boating. A gazebo on the main floor provides the perfect place to relax and take in the landscape. The gazebo has vaulted ceilings and offers window views throughout.

This home at 15865 River Bend Lane, Cold Spring is listed at $849,500 by Andy Asbury of Lake Sothebys International Realty.

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Mansion on the Market: Home sits on 152 feet of Sauk River waterfront - SC Times

Callous thieves have stolen a gazebo that was reportedly being used to treat patients at a Burton doctors' surgery.

The green gazebo was last seen on Friday, May 1, before thieves swiped it from Bridge Surgery between then and this morning.

It is thought it was being used as an outdoor shelter and consulting area in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen doctors change the way they work in order to combat the virus.

Staffordshire Police confirmed the theft was reported to them this morning.

A spokesman for the police force said: "It was reported to us at 9.30am that the gazebo had been stolen from Bridge Surgery on St Peter's Street.

"It was described as two-by-two metres and green and was last seen on Friday.

"Any witnesses or anyone with information can get in touch by calling 101 and quoting incident number 136 of May 4."

The surgery has been approached for comment.

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Gazebo reportedly used to treat patients stolen from Burton GP surgery - Derbyshire Live

Another summer Shuswap tradition has been postponed due to COVID-19

The Wednesday on the Wharf (WOW) concert series, presented by the Shuswap District Arts Council at Salmon Arms Marine Park, will not be proceeding this year.

For 26 years the concert series has provided residents with a place to gather with friends and family on the grass at the park gazebo stage to enjoy the lively sounds of talented musicians, states the arts council in a media release.

In 2020, however, the events that have unfolded with the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the cancellation of many community gatherings, and WOW has now been added to the list of summer festivals that will not happen this year, reads the release.

The 12-week series was set to begin in June, but provincial health authorities are not expected to lift the restriction on gatherings of 50 or more people until the end of summer.

Read more: In photos: Music lovers make their way to Wednesday on the Wharf

Read more: Net cast for musical acts to play Salmon Arm concert series

Since WOW attracts anywhere from 300 to 600 people, stated the arts council, this clearly exceeds the limits of what is considered a safe outdoor gathering.

This is not the situation that any of us were hoping for, said program manager Astrid Varnes. We were hoping we might be able to offer a shortened season, perhaps with a mid-July or August start, but it is not to be.

WOW is not just about the music, its about connecting with friends and family, about audiences dancing and having a picnic, and we realized we couldnt offer WOW in a way that would ensure everybodys health and safety.

The arts council is committed to long-term, sustainable cultural planning, and will continue to work toward a 2021 season that is adaptable to the new reality that is the performing arts sector.

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Another summer Shuswap tradition on hold due to COVID-19 - Salmon Arm Observer

Long before the coronavirus pandemic crushed the economy and slowed real estate sales, some high-priced residential properties were lingering on the market.

Asking prices were dropped and negotiations took place to close the deal. Here are examples:

621 N.W. Skyline Blvd. in Portland's Forest Park sold for $850,000 on Feb. 28, 2020 by Don Jones with Casey Jones of John L. Scott.John L. Scott

$350,000 price drop in Forest Park: 621 N.W. Skyline Blvd. in Portland sold for $850,000 on Feb. 28, 2020, a reduction of $350,000 since being listed for $1.2 million on April 24, 2018, according to public records.

The house with sweeping valley and coast range views was built in 1989 on 1.94 acres and has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and 3,473 square feet of living space. The gated driveway leads to a five-car garage, greenhouse, gazebo, tool building and raised garden beds and in-ground sprinklers.

Possible apartment with kitchen and separate entry in lower level with unbelievable storage and/or shop potential said listing agent Don Jones with Casey Jones of John L. Scott. See active listings

2524 N.W. Skyline Blvd. in Portland sold for $1,465,000 on March 25, 2020 by Mary Ann McDowell with Darrin Amico of Hasson Company.Hasson Company

$234,000 price drop in Forest Park: 2524 N.W. Skyline Blvd. in Portland sold for $1,465,000 on March 25, 2020, a reduction of $234,000 since being listed for $1,699,000 on June 24, 2019 (It was listed at $1.9 million on July 30, 2018).

The French Country-style house, built in 1995 on 1.22 acres, has a real concrete stucco exterior and real stucco interior walls plus three fireplaces. French doors, balconies, three bedrooms, four bathrooms and 4,625 square feet of living space.

Among the landscaped grounds are a saltwater pool, sauna and hot tub.

Quality construction throughout. Zinc windowsills and thresholds, said listing agent Mary Ann McDowell with Darrin Amico of Hasson Company. See active listings

3510 S.W. Sherwood Place in Portland sold for $1.35 million on April 16, 2020 by Dennis Laird of Windermere Realty Trust.Windermere Realty Trust

$200,000 price drop in Portland Heights: 3510 S.W. Sherwood Place in Portland sold for $1.35 million on April 16, 2020, a reduction of $200,000 since being listed for $1.55 million on July 19, 2019.

The custom home was built in 1962 on 1.03 acres and designed to frame city, river and mountain views over Marquam Park and have direct access to trails and OHSU. The house has four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 4,383 square feet of living space.

There is a fenced yard and deep, two-car garage.

Designed for privacy by the father of Pacific Northwest architecture John Storrs. A recent remodel kept the original design integrity intact. Updates include a luxury master suite, complete kitchen and all bathrooms. Nearly every surface has been thoughtfully recreated, said listing agent Dennis Laird of Windermere Realty Trust. See active listings

13731 N.W. Glendoveer Dr. In Portland's Forest Park sold for $1 million on April 15, 2020 by Don Jones with Casey Jones of John L. Scott.John L. Scott

$195,000 price drop in Forest Park: 13731 N.W. Glendoveer Dr. in Portland sold for $1 million on April 15, 2020, a reduction of $195,000 since being listed for $1,195,000 on April 6, 2019.

The Craftsman house with a wraparound porch was built in 1999 on 1.02 acres and was showcased in NW Naturals Street of Dreams.

The custom luxury home has four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a bonus room and 4,876 square feet of living space.

Theres a double staircase, crown moldings and wainscoting, and refinished hardwoods, said listing agent Don Jones with Casey Jones of John L. Scott. See active listings

13810 N.W. Charlton Road in Portland sold for $1,050,000 on April 15, 2020 by Matt Mahaffy of Windermere Realty Trust.Windermere Realty Trust

$100,000 price drop in Sauvie Island: 13810 N.W. Charlton Road in Portland sold for $1,050,000 on April 15, 2020, a reduction of $100,000 since being listed for $1,150,000 on Feb. 20, 2020.

The custom house, built in 2002 on 2.11 acres, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an indoor sauna and 2,176 square feet of living space.

There is a covered outdoor patio with a wood-burning pizza oven and a three-bay, 30x50 shop.

Completely designed and reimagined by award-winning Olson Design Build at the end of Charlton Road, making it extremely private, said listing agent Matt Mahaffy of Windermere Realty Trust. See active listings

48000 E. Larch Mountain Road in Corbett sold for $850,000 by listing agent Michelle Smith of RE/MAX Equity Group.RE/MAX Equity Group

$75,000 price drop in Corbett: 48000 E. Larch Mountain Road in the Larch Mountain Corridor sold for $850,000 on Feb. 13, 2020, a reduction of $75,000 since being listed for $925,000 on May 30, 2019.

The two-level, traditional-style house, built in 1995 on 13.58 acres, has five bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and 4,021 square feet of living space.

A gate opens to a blacktop driveway. There is extensive decking plus outbuildings, including a 3,600-square-foot shop and 1,200-square-foot tractor barn.

Get away from it all. Experience nature at its finest. Amazing opportunity to raise your family and animals on extremely quiet and private acreage in a low wind area in the Corbett School District, said listing agent Michelle Smith of RE/MAX Equity Group. See active listings

--Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

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On the market: Portland homes that finally sold after a huge price cut - OregonLive

HOT SPRINGS -- A top-heavy eight-horse field in the $90,000 Gazebo Stakes for 3-year-old horses today at Oaklawn is an extreme long shot to take many minds off the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Gazebo purse itself is an example of ongoing changes at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, led last week by the closure of racing-ground doors to fans and the facility's casino. As a byproduct of casino profit lost, limited on-track betting, and non-existent restaurant and concession sales, the track has reduced race purses as of today.

The Gazebo purse has been reduced from $125,000. Purses for maiden special-weight races have been cut from $87,000 to $60,000. Whereas an allowance-optional $62,500 claiming race paid a purse of $94,000 Friday, today the same will pay $64,000.

"We have to do that," Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. "It's not sustainable at the high-purse level when everything is shut down. It's not sustainable, so we have to have cuts. Quite honestly, I hate the phrase, it's an awful phrase, 'feel your pain', but we're all feeling the pain together. We're working with the horsemen, and they've been great. They understand it. We're working with them together. We're family, and we're going to get through this together."

"If anyone is going to complain that we're running, and the purses are cut, they need to have their head examined," trainer Robertino Diodoro said.

Gazebo morning-line second-choice Long Weekend trainer Tom Amoss is self-quarantined in southern Louisiana because of contact he had last Saturday with New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton, who was diagnosed with coronavirus Thursday. Trainer Jeremiah Englehart hosted Payton and is self-quarantined in Hot Springs.

Nevertheless, the races go on, at least for now, and Amoss has high hopes for Long Weekend, by Majestic Perfection, who won an optional-claiming 6-furlong race in 1:09.58 at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston on Feb. 19 in his last start.

"That race at Sam Houston was basically our prep for the Gazebo," Amoss said.

Amoss took on Long Weekend before his first race, a 5-furlong maiden special-weight, won in 58.48 at Churchill Downs on June 23. He said he immediately knew he had a sprinter in his barn.

"He's a very good sprinter," Amoss said.

In Lost Weekend's second of three career starts, six months before his win at Sam Houston, he finished sixth of seven in the Grade II 61/2-furlong Saratoga Special at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Aug. 10.

"We probably got in a little hurry with him to try such a big race as the one we did at Saratoga," Amoss said. "It set us back. In an effort to do right by the horse, we gave him some time off, and he's rewarded us."

Oaklawn's Gazebo is next up for Lost Weekend.

"I think he has every chance to be a top sprinter, and not just regionally, but on a national scale," Amoss said. "I'm hoping we can take our next step forward ... in the Gazebo."

Muddy Waters Stables' and Ingrid Mason's Lykan enters off a 6-furlong optional-claiming win, at 20-1, in 1:10.07 at Oaklawn on Feb. 23.

Lykan, trained by Mason, has a career record of 2-0-4. Both wins were ridden by Tyler Baze

Baze said he felt as if the Congrat's colt has just started to figure out what it takes to run fast.

"He's just been like a big baby, but he's working lights out and I think he's ready to go," Baze said. "Since he's been here at Oaklawn, after that last race, he's really feeling his oats. I know we'll probably be 10-1 or something, but I think the light bulb has kind of went on for him."

Baze said he knows the Gazebo is weighted with talent, perhaps led by 5-2 morning-line favorite Little Menace, a son of Into Mischief, owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, and conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

He also mentioned Hugh Robertson's Beau Oxy and Jack Dickerson's and Zack Ames' Marvin, both trained by Mac Robertson.

Baze said Lykan seems ready for the challenge.

"There are several good ones in there, but I like our chances," he said.

Rick Lee's Gazebo Stakes picks

9 The Gazebo. Purse $90,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds

LONG WEEKEND*** defeated allowance rivals at Houston by nearly 7-widening lengths, and he has a series of strong works at Fair Grounds. The one to catch. BEAU OXY proved best of two winning an allowance race at Fair Grounds, while eased up late, and he drew a favorable post. LITTLE MENACE followed a decisive maiden win at Churchill with a determined allowance win over this track, and the steadily improving colt has enough speed to be in a good spot turning into the stretch.

PP HORSE JOCKEY TRAINER ODDS

4 Long Weekend Talamo Amoss 3-1

8 Beau Oxy Vazquez Robertson 7-2

5 Little Menace Cohen Asmussen 5-2

3 Lykan Baze Mason 8-1

6 Marvin Canchari Robertson 4-1

7 Fly to the Bank WDe La Cruz Helzer 10-1

1 No Shirt No Shoes Birzer Anderson 15-1

2 Nucky FDe La Cruz Miller 15-1

Sports on 03/21/2020

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Long Weekend looking to step it up in Gazebo - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Construction is set to begin later this year on a $3.5 million expansion of the Whitehall Division of Police headquarters, 365 S. Yearling Road, at the cost of a city gazebo -- at least for a short time.

The project's timeline is uncertain, but it probably won't begin until May, said Megan Meyer, community affairs-manager for Whitehall.

The gazebo that was just north of the police station already has been removed in preparation for the project, Meyer said, but it will be replaced when the work is finished.

A new gazebo made of materials that are easier to maintain will take the old structure's place, Meyer said.

The 13,000-square-foot addition largely will be built onto the north side of the existing building, Meyer said.

Parking for the police station will be added on the former site of Minuteman Pizza on the west side of South Yearling Road, north of Doney Street. That building will be demolished later this year, Meyer said.

"The expansion will entail a new state-of-the-art emergency dispatch center and emergency operations center, an updated reception office and additional space for police officers," Meyer said.

The scope and size of the project are subject to change, pending the results of requests for proposals from contractors yet to be received by the city, Meyer said.

The project includes technology upgrades of about $1 million, Meyer said.

The expansion would have multiple benefits for the division, said Whitehall police Chief Mike Crispen.

"The increased space will provide (additional space for) report-writing and evidence-processing," Crispen said, along with a "state-of-the-art dispatch center and improved customer-service capabilities."

The expansion would increase the area of the emergency-operations center and would double the space for evidence storage, Crispen said.

kcorvo@thisweeknews.com

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Gazebo removed for Whitehall police stations expansion - ThisWeek Community News

Among the condominium complexes, shopping centers and eateries in Livingston sits 10 acres of picturesque pastures where more than 36 miniature horses once roamed, much to the delight of passing motorists and patients at the Saint Barnabas Medical Center, which sits near the sprawling fields.

The Evergreen Miniature Horse Farm has been a fixture in the Livingston community for more than 40 years. Boasting a gazebo, a stream and multiple barns, the property was a slice of heaven for those wishing to step away from the hustle and bustle of Livingstons ever-expanding properties.

Its a beautiful property, said Linda Gloshinski, land preservation specialist at the Land Conservancy of New Jersey. When youre there, you kind of look around and you feel like youre in New England or something. It doesnt give you the feel of being in the township of Livingston, which is a suburban setting.

Established by longtime Livingston resident Andrew Licari, the farm was fueled by his deep love and appreciation for horses. After purchasing four miniature horses from the United Kingdom, Licari knew he found his calling.

We started showing (the horses) and, before you know it, we were going to shows all over the board, Licari said. We must have had over 500 trophies. My stallions were the best stallions.

Soon enough, after Licari began breeding his miniatures, 36 horses were set out to pasture on the farm.

Ive never had so much fun in my life, he said. All the money in the world couldnt give us the pleasure we had when those horses were born.

Licaris mindset stayed the same as the years went on. When contractors came knocking hoping to develop on the land, Licari refused.

I had contractors come by the dozens over the years, he said. I wouldnt let anyone put any condos there.

One organizations pursuit of the land was persistent though and, after over nine years of negotiations, Licari decided to sell the property.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, a nonprofit accredited land trust, promised the farmland would be preserved, rather than developed. The land was sold to the Township of Livingston, with the conservancy serving as the open space adviser, assisting with the transaction. The deal was announced in February.

Theyre keeping it as a farm and thats why I sold it to them, Licari said. When my grandkids pass by, they can still say Thats grandpas farm.

Gloshinski, who handled the acquisition of the farm for the Township of Livingston, echoed Licaris wishes to keep the property as is.

Its in great condition, there really isnt anything that needs to be done with it, she said. Were very happy that Mr. Licari ended up preserving the property. The property did have the potential to be subdivided and he was approached by developers over the years, so I think the town was very grateful that, in the end, he decided to sell to the town for preservation rather than to a developer for residential development.

According to Gloshinski, the township has formed a committee to decide how to use the land. While no official plans have been made yet, Gloshinski believes decisions will be made this summer.

The township formed a committee to figure out what exactly they want to do with the property, but they are going to be keeping the barns and the gazebo on the site, she said. They really wanted more land for outdoor passive recreation, so this property was ideal. By the summer, they should have a plan for the proposed uses.

As for Licari, his love of horses continues. For 40 years, we had a lot of good time with (the horses), he said. I just love horses. As for the horses, Gloshinski revealed Licari gave them to a friend in Georgia prior to the closing.

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Sprawling horse farm in Livingston to be preserved - nj.com

Decisions have a short shelf lifeduring a pandemic.

On the afternoon of Thursday, March 19, Ted McGreer was intent on keeping open Ted's Shoe and Sport, on Main Streetin Keene, New Hampshire. His nine employees needed the money. And his customers needed sneakers and orthotics for the solitary walks and runs that had become their sole reasons to venture outside. Even as traffic dropped to 10 or 15 customers a day, the staff was frantically wiping down pens, door handles, and credit card keypads. For regular clients with predictable shoe sizes and preferences, McGreer offered curbside service and home delivery.

The next morning McGreer spoke up at a virtual town hall for the Keene business community,a recurring event established by the city's mayor, George Hansel, for the duration of the coronavirus crisis.He expressed gratitude for the "kind, generous, and compassionate" customers who continued to support the business. Then he mentioned that weekend marked the store's 20thanniversary. "But I am uneasy for the health of my employees," he said. "So I am going to come out and say we are closing retail operations. I feel sick to my stomach about it."

McGreer concluded, "I love each and every one of you. We are in this together."

Keene, with a population of around 23,000, is avibrant city in a bucolic corner of southwest New Hampshire. The business district, composed of about 150 mostly family-owned stores, is clustered on Main Street, a leafy boulevard of trim brick buildings. There is the Keene Statecollege campus, a nearly century-old theater, and a gazebo. Tourism has been rising every year. A $30 million arts-and-culture corridor is in the works.

Keene's business owners compete, of course. Still, it is the kind of place where a restaurateur who runs out of mixed greens will borrow some from the bistro down the street. Where veteran merchants mentor a newbie opening her first store. And where business owners describe other business owners as family. So even as fears of Covid-19 shutter store after store and merchants weigh unpleasantdecisions, Keene's business owners are closing ranks as never before. "We already have a strong sense of community here and we are building on that," says Hansel, the mayor. "I think that will make the difference in weathering this storm."

The power of a clever promotion

Even as McGreer grieves the temporary closing of Ted's Shoe and Sport, he is thinking how to help his fellow merchants. In the works: a store-sponsored virtual run. Participants will pay $20 to register online, andthen do a 5K witnessed only by their cellphones. McGreer will transfer 100 percentof the proceeds to gift cards for use at local businesses chosen by the runners.

If the generosity is typical of McGreer, the creativity shows the influence of Luca Paris, McGreer's best friend. Paris launched Luca's Mediterranean Caf in 2000, the same year McGreer opened his shoe store: The two businesses bookend Main Street.He is a zealous booster of Keene's small businesses, including other restaurants, whose owners he talks about and sometimes interviews on his weekly radio program.

Paris's greatest strength is his promotions: He is an imaginative and puckish marketer. Last week when the governor mandated delivery and curbside service only for restaurants, he pulled out rolls of toilet paper from storage, slapped on stickers with the restaurant's logo, and wrote on their wrappers "We've Got Your Back ... Side." One roll went into every bag heading out the door to customers. "My only goal was to make people happy," Paris says. "Now, oh my God, they are all over Facebook!"

Paris also sometimes borrows ideas from others, like when he recently urged business owners to buy meals for their staffs and to patronize a different local restaurant each time. He got that from Jerel Gomarlo, the third-generation owner of Gomarlo's Shop 'n' Save Supermarket, which is a few minutes away in Swanzey, New Hampshire.

While Covid-19 panic has tripled the supermarket's business, it all but closed the small restaurant next door, so Gomarlo started buying breakfast there for a staff that has now swelled to almost 40. The next day he expanded the practice to lunch and has been spending between $500 and $700 each day at a different Swanzey or Keene establishment.

"I know if I had to shut my doors for any length of time, more than likely we wouldn't open back up," Gomarlo says. "This might help them get by a little bit."

Shutting down, but paying it forward

Last June, Taryn Fisher opened the Keene Fine Craft Gallery in an elegant brick building directly across Central Square from Luca's Mediterranean Caf. The store, which markets products from the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, is a decorator's dream of graceful blown glass, delicate prints, and saturated color textiles.

At Keene's first virtual town hall, on March 17, Fisher listened to one of her mentors, Good Fortune Jewelry & Pawn owner Roger Weinreich, speak eloquently about merchants' responsibility to the community and the importance of "flattening the curve." Weinreich and his wife and co-owner, Maddie, were in self-imposed lockdown following travel abroad and had transitioned their store to by-appointment only. His words struck home for Fisher, who that same day closed her store, hanging in her window a large sign: "CV-19 Pandemic Update. Need to shop? Contact us via email. We'll make an appointment." But passers-by still wandered in. So on Friday, after hearing McGreer announce his closing, Fisher took the final step and locked her door.

"I am shut down and it hurts. It just hurts," Fisher says. Her isolation is especially painful because she has no employees. Two days before shutting downshe was sitting in her store, miserable and alone, when Perparime Abdullahu, owner of the neighboring Indian restaurant Royal Spice, dropped by to check on her. The two got to talking, and Abdullahu ended up ordering a custom plaque engraved with her children's names: a $225 sale.

As Abdullahu left, she told Fisher she was on her way to pick up lunch from Luca's, and further impressed on her the need to support the community.So Fisher got lunch theretoo,and the next day ordered from Yahso Jamaican Grille, a new downtown business. Naturally, she posted a Facebook video touting both restaurants.

Inspired by the spirit of camaraderie, the following day Fisher called Shannon Hundley, managing partner of Life Is Sweet, a candy store and bakeryacross the street, and offered to hand out $5 coupons for treats to the gallery's customers who came by for appointments. Because Life Is Sweet didn't have ready-made coupons, "I will just write $5 on my business card and give them that," said Fisher. "Go and get a free cupcake. It's on us." (Fisher is picking up the tab for now. She and Hundley haven't discussed how they'll work it out later.)

Fisher expectsto make a red-or-green decision inlate April. "Red is:It is over. I am toast," she says. "Green is:I can do this. Just hang on." One or two businesses may not survive, she concedes. "But people here have been working on Main Street for 20 years or more. They are doing what they can to keep this thing alive."

Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled the last name of Ted's Shoe and Sport owner Ted McGreer.

Published on: Mar 25, 2020

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How a Group of New Hampshire Entrepreneurs Are Leaning on One Another to Stay in Business - Inc.