When the state closed down Jean’s place and all the other restaurants, people in Hoosick Falls were horrified. “I just don’t want to think of our town without Jean’s Place,” one local resident messaged me.

I didn’t want to think about it either. The family that owns and runs Jean’s Place – Kelly, Kevin, Kelsie – went to work, organizing a take-out business, sanitizing the place hourly, working from 1 a.m. well into the night.

It’s not the same as having a restaurant, but their hard work and fierce determination seemed to work. I did everything I could think of to do. I wrote about it on my blog, which is not a local blog, I went and ordered food almost every day and I arranged once or twice weekly lunch catering from Jean’s Pace to the Mansion.

That helped.

All of this was helpful, I hope, but the big factor was the incredibly hard work of the family and the deep loyalty of so many people in the town. Jean’s Place has been a haven for local people for years, and the favor was returned when the restaurant had to close.

The state is now talking about opening up restaurants in the rural areas in a week or two. They will have to limit the number of people allowed in at one time and perhaps make some other changes, but it will be a huge step towards recovery.

Zinnia is practically part of the family by now, she knows where every crump or grease stain is. I can’t get used to the empty restaurant, it is always teeming with people, sounds, and smells.

I feel that the restaurant will make it, the community it represents will survive. Most of the people reading this live far away from Jean’s Place, but I thank the locals for supporting Jean’s so strongly and continuously.

I think we did it. I think they did it. They’ve just got to hang on a little longer. (For takeout and the best Egg N’Cheese sandwiches around call 518 686 3258/