COVID-19’s Detrimental Effect on Local Businesses

Covid- 19 Detrimental Effects on Local Businesses

BY FUNANYA IKECHUKWU

Covid -19 has led to one of the largest staff. One of the hardest things for Medina, amount of customers. “We get roughly 350 economic depressions since the Great during this pandemic, was having to lay off to 400 customers a day. The number has Depression of the 1930s. According to hardworking staff with no promise of them been steady,” he said. reuters.com, this pandemic has led to returning back to the restaurant. Businesses need the help of the community shrinking of the US economy by roughly At UReach Thrift, the donations are being to stay afloat.“We are continuously training 30%. Small businesses have been hit handled with more care than ever before, to and innovating. We hope we can provide extremely hard by the lack of customers, but make sure that they are safe for the general new and exciting items in 2021. Running in the face of unfortunate circumstances, public. “We are following all the safety codes a business is definitely not easy, but if we local businesses have been adapting to new against Covid: social distance, wearing masks, continue to delight our guests and reduce changes to get through this pandemic. hand sanitizing, taking temperatures,” said wait time we will continue to grow,” said Ly.

According to Joe Ly, owner of the Boba Pastrama. Customers can place their orders through Tea House, business in the town of Loma There are many negatives to running a bobateahouse.net. This way customers can Linda has been cut in half. This declining business during 2020. “The bills do not go avoid lining up, and just directly pick up trend has put a major dent in the profits of away, rent, utilities, fees, and taxes are due, their order. small businesses. as a business owner juggling the financial Medina, said, “The community has been

Najwa Medina, a caterer supportive, but not enough and owner of the Najwa’s Mediterrean Cuisine, has “ The bills do not go away, to keep us going. The bulk of my business was the catering experienced a huge cut in her business. Medina is the caterer rent, utilities, fees, and and special events. It would be helpful to order trays of food for Loma Linda Academy, and due to the Covid-19 pandemic taxes are due, as a business or even just dinner to go.” Customers can contact her the school has been “closed.” For Medina, transitioning to having owner juggling the financial restaurant through her phone number at (909)-894-0488 more Covid-19 precautions was not a huge change. She said, “As resources is very stressful.” or place an order through her website, najwas.revelup.com. for safety precautions we always operated with the most caution -Najwa Medina Pastrama said, “People could pay more attention to their and followed health regulations donations. Sometimes those from day one.” donations look so dirty, old, and

Jonathan Pastrama, an assistant manager of resources is very stressful,” said Medina. are in a bad condition. They can consider not UReach Thrift, said, “In the first months we The person to person conversations has to donate those kinds of items or do a deep had to close the store, and little by little we been lost. “It’s always great to see our regular clean of them before bringing them here.” have been [able] to reopen again.” clientele come in with family or friends to Doing this will greatly help those who take

As a result of the pandemic, Boba Tea hang out. We’ve also lost some staffing due to care of those donations, and make it more House had to go through some major Covid. Keeping the team motivated can be a safe for employees. Consumers can visit changes. Ly said, “Immediately we decided to challenge,” said Ly. UReach Thrift at their store at the address go cashless to reduce hand to hand contact. The number of customers for Najwa 24871 Redlands Blvd, Loma Linda, CA We also installed shields in our front service Mediterrean Cuisine, have been cut down to 92354 or call the store at (909)-796-4400. area. All sit down furniture ... were removed. 35 to 50 customers a day. This is much fewer Small businesses are a vital part of our All staff members were provided two than the restaurant had before. community’s economy and local culture. The washable masks and now we have disposable According to Pastrama, the thrift store pandemic is temporary, but the effects on the [masks] as well.” now gets about 70 to 80 customers a small stores can be long lasting. In order to

Due to the lack of customers, the local day. This is way less than the amount of keep these businesses alive, the community businesses in the community have been customers, UReach Thrift had received needs to support them, to make sure these struggling financially. Both Medina and before the pandemic. effects are only temporary. Ly, had to lay off a good portion of their Ly on the other hand, still has a steady 14

QR CODES

To use simply, open the camera app and scan the QR Code. A notification will appear, and direct the user to the store’s information.