They’re open, but these Central Valley essential businesses struggle with coronavirus
Yes, they’re still open for business. No, it’s not business as usual.
While most everyone knows grocery stores, pharmacies and big-box retailers have been bustling during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, lots of other kinds of essential businesses are also open and ready to serve across Modesto and the Central Valley.
As thousands locally shift to working remotely from home to stop the spread of COVID-19, these companies continue to work with the public every day — albeit with new safety procedures. Yet despite remaining open, many have seen significant drops in business as the global pandemic continues to wreak havoc on people’s lives and livelihoods.
Whether it is the statewide stay-at-home order, sudden financial instability and/or plain old-fashioned fear, people just aren’t using businesses like dry cleaners, plant nurseries, pest control, auto shops, pet stores and others like they used to.
While they remain open, these businesses have had to juggle to keep both their shoppers and staff safe amid the global pandemic, while encouraging the public to still use their services.
Different kinds of essential businesses
“We’re essential, so we’re here. Some people have come in and said, ‘Oh, we’re so glad you are open. We need you,’” said Sue Martinez, manager of Modesto’s Bonded Cleaners. The dry cleaning service along with laundromats and the like are open during the outbreak.
To help maintain social distancing, Bonded Cleaners is allowing only three customers in at a time, and also offering curbside pickup and drop-off by request. But the drop-in business so far has been brutal.
Instead of 600 to 800 pieces a day, they are handling maybe 100. While Martinez said she hasn’t had to let any of her 11 staff members go, she has reduced hours. And the store no longer is open on Saturdays.
Another essential business making big changes in how it operates is Morris Nursery in Riverbank. The popular garden center has closed its shop to the public and is hand-picking all of its orders for customers and then loading them into the cars for curbside pickup.
Owner Ron Hoffmann said people can either call, email or shop online on their website (www.morrisnursery.com) to place orders. Still, with all the new touchless shopping options, he said they’ve had a steep drop in sales. Typically, this is the start of the busy spring planting season.
He estimates the nursery has seen a 60% to 70% decline in business. He has not had to let anyone go yet, but did send two employees over the age of 65 home for the time being out of concern for their health.
At first, he said he had a few people wonder why they were still open. But, during a stressful time for everyone, he said gardening provides a welcome and practical distraction for many.
“We’re doing everything we can to be safe,” he said. “It is what it is and we’ll get through it. Most people have been extremely appreciative that we’re open. Everyone is stuck at home, and this way, they can grow their own food and vegetables.”
From growing food to killing the bugs that eat the food and cause problems, pest control services are still spraying across the region. But even though their services are largely monthly subscription based, companies like Modesto-based Cornerstone Pest Management have seen people cancel because of the uncertain economy.
Layoffs because of coronavirus
Owner Stephen Rys has decided to close his office and have his staff of seven work remotely to avoid contact. His technicians pick up their gear from a storage facility, so there’s no need for face-to-face contact.
Still, he said he will likely have to lay off at least one of his employees. And if things continue, perhaps more.
“Personally, I’m worried. This is normally the beginning of the busiest time of year,” Rys said. “I’m trying to get people to just suspend their service, not cancel. But we’re losing more than we’re winning. The month of April will show the true picture for us.”
Auto repair shops also remain open, to help essential workers and everyone else keep their cars running. But with so many people staying home and worries about a possible recession on the horizon, vehicle maintenance has taken a back seat.
At downtown Modesto’s Walker Automotive, manager Aaron Walker said business is down about 75% percent from normal. He has had to lay some workers off, but he said those were voluntary. Everyone left is working reduced hours. As is, they’re seeing only five or six cars a day when they used to have 20 to 25.
They’re doing more cleaning and have shut down their shuttle service as a precaution. Instead, they’re offering complimentary home pickup and drop-off for all vehicles. So far, Walker said about two customers have taken advantage of the service.
They’re also reaching out in hopes of helping elderly members of the community by doing grocery runs for them. They are offering it free to anyone over the age of 60 who requests it, though they’ll still have to pay for their own groceries.
“We’re fortunate. We’ve had this business for 43 years and we’re our own landlords,” Walker said. “But this is a wild, wild time. I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”
New safety measures at essential businesses
One kind of essential business that often has no choice but to stay open — both to care for the live animals they sell and customer animals they provide services to — are pet stores. Caldron’s Pet’s Choice in Modesto’s Frontier Town Shopping Center has been open throughout. At the beginning of the outbreak, the shop was swamped with buyers stocking up on dog and cat food.
But since the initial rush, things have slowed down. Instead, some people, perhaps bored from having to stay home, had started going to the store just to browse around. Store manager Rachael Hall said they’ve stopped selling live animals to discourage lingering and window shopping inside.
They’ve also locked the front doors and allow only two to three customers in at a time. They’ve limited their open hours and are instead encouraging people to place their orders over the phone or online (www.mypetschoice.com) and then use their curbside pickup. They are also offering free delivery to any customers over the age of 65 or with compromised immune systems.
Hall has been able to retain her six-person staff and is paying them the same despite slashing their hours. She said they want to stay open because many of their customers have pets with specialized diets, and only they carry the food locally.
But like so many other essential workers who still must have contact with the public, she worries about bringing the virus home to the family.
“That’s kind of a heavy thing. We’re doing our best. It weighs on you being an essential worker,” she said. “My husband (is at home) with our children and if anything happens to my family, it’s from me. But at the same time, we can’t leave animals and pets without food.”
That should not be lost on shoppers. As worried as you are about going out to businesses and catching the virus, the staffs of those businesses are just as worried about you giving it to them. So be kind and be generous and be safe and be quick. Small local businesses are the engine of any community, and those essential workers are still chugging along as best they can for you.
