Phase 1 tasks: 3 Farragut-area businesses re-adjust

Three Farragut area businesses updated their status as the Town/Knox County Phase 1 re-opening plan continues to take shape in light of the coronavirus pandecmic.

Moonshine Mtn. Cookie Co.

“Most of our traffic is carryout traffic,” said Aaron Evans, a staff member of Moonshine Mountain Cookie Company, 10205 Kingston Pike.

“So, we’ll either have people come inside and order their cookies and take them to wherever they’re going or people will call ahead and place their order,” he added, noting MMCC also has been offering curbside service.

MSCC has been open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Evans said the only thing that changed was shortening its hours by an hour every evening.

Tropical Smoothie Café

Tropical Smoothie Café, 119 Lovell Road next to Costco, having been open providing curbside and take-out service, re-opened its dining room Monday, May 11, at 50 percent capacity, owner Jason Willeman said. “We just want to make sure we have everything in order to train our employees so they understand the regulations by the local authorities and not rush into it.”

Still, “Our business hours are back to normal,” Willeman added. Before, “We closed two hours early every day.

“Business is getting better every week. We’ve seen sales increase the last four consecutive weeks.”

Gina Bernina Sewing Center

Another Farragut retail business to re-open last week was Gina’s Bernina Sewing Center, 10816 Kingston Pike, which opened Friday, May 8.

“We have made some changes in the way we do things here, like our cleaning schedule has increased,” owner Regina Owen stated. “We are all mindful of the spreading of germs and trying to use hand sanitizer more often and minding our social distancing … also to help with the amount of people coming into the shop, we are going to promote more sales incentives for shopping online.”

Owen added she is continuing curbside pick-up for May.