Businesses in Cannery Row are thrilled about the reopening of the Monterey Bay Aquarium

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) The Monterey Bay Aquarium has announced that they will finally be opening, and local businesses on Cannery Row and Old Fisherman's Wharf are thrilled.

With Monterey County moving to the red tier, there's a green light for the Monterey Bay Aquarium to finally reopen after months of being closed to the public.

Sandra Chodera, owner of La Dolce Vita Home and Garden Ideas has been in business for about 12 years on Cannery Row and will never forget how empty this area was at the beginning of the pandemic.

"It was very, very quiet. There was nobody on the streets. It was so dead down here, it was really very, very sad," says Chodera.

The reopening of the aquarium couldn't have come in a better time as Chodera explains that business typically picks up during the spring and summer. She believes that this area will be inundated by people.

"I think we're going to be barraged. People cannot wait for the aquarium to open. I'm sure they're going to be really busy and we're going to be really busy down here too," says Chodera.

Lance Koehler, General Manager of Louie Linguini's and Co-Chair of the Cannery Row Business Association says that businesses are elated to know that aquarium is reopening.

"Cannery Row business association is absolutely thrilled to have the aquarium reopening. It is a reason for a little bit of normalcy for a lot of business owners and businesses," says Koehler.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is set to open for May 1st for members and May 15th for the general public.