Milwaukee businesses hope for boom with city's mask order set to expire Tuesday

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The unofficial start to summer includes a bonus for Milwaukee businesses.

The city's mask mandate ends Tuesday, June 1.

On Brady Street, there's a sense of energy, and employees said they feel the city's businesses are ready to boom again.

On a warm Memorial Day afternoon, people are lounging on patios along Brady Street, catching up, enjoying a drink.

"We've had way more people come in on a Monday afternoon than normal, so it's really great, lot of good energy out here," said King Crab Shack Waiter Julian Kudick.

Kudick said it feels like Brady Street is ready to burst.

"There are people everywhere," said Kudick.

Cooperative weather doesn't hurt, but Tuesday, Milwaukee's mask mandate also ends. That will allow businesses to operate as they choose.

"We closed the upstairs so a lot less people can stay in here, the bar is shut down," said Rochambo Coffee and Tea House Barista Luke Patterson.

In between steaming up lattes, Patterson expected big changes starting Tuesday.

"I think we're going to up up the upstairs and I think there's a chance we will loosen up mask rules," said Patterson.

Businesses can still have safety rules in place. The CDC said unvaccinated people should continue to wear masks in public indoor settings. But a long, difficult year and a half is slowly hitting more milestones to normal. Even if there is still reason to be cautious in the weeks ahead.

"It does bring a slight worry to me knowing that there are people out here unvaccinated and not wearing masks out here," said Kudick.

Health care settings, schools and homeless shelters are some of the places where masks are still expected.

So even with Milwaukee's mask order ending, it would be wise to continue carrying one around.