COVID-19 Concerns
BerryLine and COVID-19
Update Feb 4 2022: Harvard Square is back open with a fresh new look! We are still devastated about the COVID motivated closure of our Porter shop, but look forward to continuing to serve you out of our Harvard shop for years to come.
Update December 2021: To the many friends of BerryLine, we sincerely regret to tell you that we have permanently closed our Porter location. After 11 amazing years here we really struggled to make this decision. You all are amazing and are the reason we open the doors each day. We hope you will continue to visit us at our original location in Harvard Square or support us through the various delivery apps.
Update May 29th 2021: The CDC, Massachusetts and Cambridge have all lifted the mandatory mask requirements. We are caught in a difficult position. Do we police mask wearing in our shops or do we trust for folks to do the right thing and wear a mask if they are not vaccinated. We decided to adopt a mask advisory and hope that we (collectively) won't regret all of these changes in policy. We will continue to do our best to keep you safe while in BerryLine.
Update March 2021: We are back in business after a prolonged hibernation. Our Harvard shop opening March 6th and our Porter shop is set to open on March 26th. We look forward to seeing everyone (safely).
Update December 2020: On December 14th, we entered our annual winter hibernation mode where we take a few weeks to reflect on the years events. This past year certainly requires reflection and our hibernation could last a tad longer than in years past. You guys have been amazing and have kept us going. Thank you for being amazing. We will be back late winter/early spring of 2021.
Update November 2020: It is with heavy heart that I announce we will be closing our 1668 Mass Ave location (Porter) on November 2nd for an extended winter hibernation. The pandemic has been brutal on everyone and we hope spring weather, an unlikely return to normal, or stimulus funding will allow us to reopen early in 2021. We will consolidate operations at our Harvard shop, continuing to offer our amazing products for takeout and delivery!
Update October 2020: We are still swirling! More importantly, we are safely doing it. Also important, my Kindergartener got to start school on the 13th...yeah! Nothing new to report these days is a good thing, though I am happy to report that we are happy to serve you. Thank you..
Update July 2020: It is hard to believe that the pandemic as we know it has only been around for 5 months. It seems like forever. Global and local efforts to combat the virus have evolved. We take those efforts seriously and are doing our best to stay on top of health and safety protocols related to cleaning, sanitizing, maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, and keeping a cautious eye towards any signs of illness. You will notice little changes, like no sampling of flavors, and big changes, like no indoor seating. If you ever find us in error, please let us know. Thank you for keeping BerryLine and your other local business friends in mind! We appreciate it!
March 2020: There is no way around it, everyone is struggling during the current crisis. Our plans, as are yours, seem to be changing on a day to day basis. It goes without saying that BerryLine as a business is struggling. Business is down more than 90% during what is normally the beginning of our busy season.
The health and safety of our customers and employees are of the utmost importance. We are in frequent communication with the City of Cambridge in regards to safety and best practices (increased cleaning, masks, gloves, etc). We have moved to a takeout only system and have initiated curbside pickup and delivery services. After safety, our biggest concern is for our staff and their reliance upon the income BerryLine generates. This concern (weighed against safety) makes the decision to open/close a very difficult one. For this reason, we initially closed our Porter location but left our Harvard location open. Both locations are now open and trying to serve as safely as we can. Please support as you can.
Changes have been made, but will it be enough to keep the public safe, our employees afloat and BerryLine in business? We hope to find clarity soon. Thank you for your support! Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
How you can help:
· Support your local businesses via takeout orders and delivery orders. Order directly from the business when possible.
· Purchase gift cards online for use after the crisis is over. Please visit www.berryline.com to purchase one of our gift cards.
· As we all figure this thing out, please offer your suggestions/criticisms so we can work towards being be a better business and better community.