Downtown Enumclaw is looking a little less busy now that many of the businesses that sported tents, allowing for dry, outdoor seating are taking them down.

These “streateries”, as they’ve been called, came into existence in September as a way for local restaurants to get around COVID-19 ocupancy limits inside their venues.

The city of Enumclaw covered the cost of the tents and equipment for the whole month of September through CARES Act funds.

“October tent rentals were cost-shared with the businesses and only two have chosen to continue the tent rentals at 100 percent their cost into November,” said City Administrator Chris Searcy. Those businesses are The Rainier and The Mint.

At this point, Enumclaw no longer has any CARES Act funds to support itself or local businesses, and “[we] aren’t aware of any more distributions being available through either the county or the state,” Searcy continued.

However, the Friday Night Market — which was brought about as a continuance of the summer Sundays on Cole events — have been extended through November, giving holiday shoppers an opportunity to peruse local craft and food offerings.

This means Cole Street will continue to be closed between Griffin Avenue and Myrtle Avenue from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays for at least Nov. 13 and 20.

That same section of Cole Street will also be closed Saturdays and Sundays for people to enjoy fire pits that have been rented out to the city (weather permitting).

Then, at the end of the month, there will be a Small Business Saturday event. The market is expected to open on Nov. 28 for people to support local businesses.

“We are playing all this by ear of course and will react the best we can if presented with new information such as any change from the Governor’s mandates,” said Enumclaw City Councilmember Chance La Fleur, who has been organizing the markets. “We will roll with the punches, as they say.”