Boylston and Newbury are normally Boston’s most welcoming streets – where tourists visit whenever they come to town, and locals shop and get haircuts. After the Marathon Monday bombings, the neighborhood is left with the strange juxtaposition of a street deserted and another struggling to remain picturesque.
It’s just as the governor said, “The state will be open for business, but it will not be business as usual.” Boylston Street looks – and sounds – like a war zone.
Wailing sirens and chopping helicopters are not frequent sounds on this street. And it’s deserted except for police and investigators. It’s a scene Johnson Paint store owner Josh Johnson is trying to get used to, for now.
“It’s got a little eerie feeling to it," Johnson said. "All kinds of vehicles and armored guards and police and National Guard presence. It’s not what you’d expect.”
Johnson Paint is on Newbury Street, parallel to Boylston. Newbury still looks idyllic, lined with pink and white blooming trees and outdoor patios. Restaurants and shops have reopened for business, and people like Johnson say they’re hoping customers will come.
“It’s a different day for sure," he said. "Business is definitely not as usual. We’re doing some business. Here we’re out of the zone that’s been blocked off so we’ll continue to operate. Just go forward.”
Just down the street, at Firefly Jewelry and Gifts, owner Marty Checkoway looks sad. He says he and other business owners are eager to learn more about what happened.
"It’s surrealistic environment, obviously," Checkoway said. "You know, the mood is very solemn."
Checkoway says he’s used to a busy day after the marathon, when runners and spectators turn into tourists, and shop.
“Hopefully they will be able to find out who’s responsible for it and I think that will help, but for the businesses on the street we just have to come in and do our thing," he said. "This is our livelihood. We really hope neighbors will continue to support the area and not be afraid.”
City Hall is asking businesses to reopen quickly. Mayor Tom Menino has opened a Business Assistance Center in the lobby of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel to issue building permits and to respond to questions about reopening and required inspections. Restaurants such as Trident Booksellers were evacuated immediately after the bombs went off, and manager Courtney Flynn says there were some serious cleanup efforts afterward.
“We had to just leave the entire store as it was," Flynn said. "We had tons of customers and food everywhere. We cleaned up as much as we could until the police made us leave. But then we walked into stuff to clean up, a lot of paperwork to do, a lot of loose ends to clean up.”
Despite it all, Flynn says she’s feeling …
“Hopeful," she said. "There’s been a lot of police officers up and down the street, really friendly. It’s nice to see them here. It makes me feel secure. But they’re also, I think, trying to put up the vibe, stay strong, let’s get past this, stay positive. We’ve had a lot of police officers here eating. And the customers – everybody’s so patient.”
At least 10 blocks in and around Boylston Street are still considered a crime scene, but officials say they soon hope to reduce the perimeter.
