west valley
Volume 31 Issue 26 Goodyear, AZ
May 13, 2020
Business Briefcase
BY TOM SCANLON
because of exposure at work,” she said. •“Be data driven.” Oh referred the weRetail, barbers, salons and restau- binar audience to the website covid19. rants: healthdata.org, which Congratulations! Gov. Oh said shows Arizona Doug Ducey allowed you reached a COVID-19 peak to reopen for in-person April 22. business. •“Be very transparent.” Oh But now how are you goadmitted at Abrazo West, ing to do it? “We were not super public” A great resource is with the first COVID-19 WESTMARC’s April 30 cases. Now, she said, “We webinar: “What are the best send a nightly email to practices for reopening?” employees and physicians Though it came just betelling them exactly how fore Ducey’s announcemany positive patients we CHRISTINA OH, CEO ment, the panelists clearly have in house. … People felt the vibe that restrictions would be will give you grace for being very transloosened—and offered tips for getting parent about your thought processes.” back to business safely. •“Be prepared to operate in a new norChristina Oh, CEO for Abrazo mal.” For Abrazo, part of that means West Campus, was optimistic and ap- testing every person a few days before preciative. “Despite the fact there is a an elective procedure. ‘COVID cloud’ over the world, hosAfter Oh’s upbeat talk, Steve Chupitals are learning what it’s like to be ri, executive director of the Arizona part of a community. … We have been Restaurant Association, was relativeshowered with gifts; we’ve been show- ly gloomy. ered with more food than our bellies The pandemic, he said, “has been can handle,” she said. devastating. This has eviscerated our After expressing her gratitude for restaurant industry.” community support, Oh shared four arWith in-restaurant dining banned eas of Abrazo focus that she said gener- during Arizona’s peak spring season, al businesses can use: “Our restaurants are losing between •“Be unapologetic about protecting $25 and $30 million per day.” your stakeholders. For Abrazo, that But, he stressed, public trust in meant stocking up on personal protec- restaurants will help the food industry tive equipment. We haven’t had a sin- bounce back quickly. gle employee that has tested positive “We are held to a higher standard
IN THE BIZ
West Valley View Managing Editor
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Steven Strickbine, publisher Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Executive Editor
when it comes to hygiene,” Churi said. He cited a national poll that said the thing people missed most during isolation is going out to restaurants. “With that trust comes responsibility,” he said. “The safety of our customers is going to be job one.” Even before state guidelines for restaurants were sent out, Churi said to expect food-service staff to wear masks and gloves. “Restaurants will look different, but we’re still going to provide the service we’re known for,” he said. He thinks restaurants will set up systems to text people when tables are ready, “So maybe they’ll wait in their cars instead of in the lobby.” And, Churi said, a nearly touchless device servers can bring to settle bills at tables “will be here very soon.” The summer doldrums may not be so bad for restaurants this year, Churi predicted. “You’ll have more Arizonans staying in town this summer,” he said. “And we’re going to promote staycations.” Sintra Hoffman, CEO of WESTMARC, put things in a big-picture perspective a few days after the webinar. “People are ready to return to ‘the new normal’ business,” she said. “But safe, sanitary practices will be key for resuming consuming confidence. Testing, continued responsible social distancing and hygiene will be key to keeping new cases low and gaining economic traction.” Subscriptions are $26 for 2 years, $14 for one year. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ 85026.
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