Waterloo region small businesses brace for another lockdown
'I'm not as frightened as I was the first time around,' says Waterloo businesses owner
Businesses and restaurants in Waterloo region are bracing for a second lockdown starting this Saturday.
"I'm not as frightened as I was the first time around," said Sylvia Horn, who owns Gifted in Waterloo.
"We know what to expect now, and we've been through it before and we've been through it for a much longer period of time."
On Monday, Premier Doug Ford announced all of Ontario will move lockdown starting Boxing Day in an effort to curb the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
For municipalities in southern Ontario, including Waterloo region, the lockdown will remain in place until at least Jan. 23, 2021.
'More pain and difficulty'
That means takeout or delivery only for local restaurants and curbside pickup for retail stores that are not deemed essential.
Ian McLean, president and CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce said small business owners should familiarize themselves with what federal and provincial supports are available.
"I've heard from businesses that they are worried, and they are struggling. This isn't easy for everyone," he said.
McLean said he sympathizes with local businesses but agrees a lockdown is necessary to kept he community safe.
"It's going to take more pain and difficulty right now, and I'm very sympathetic to that, but I think this is what we have to do," he said.
'Fridges and freezers full'
"We'll continue with our curbside pickup as long as we can and as long as it's safe to do so," Horn said.
Horn said January is typically a slower month for retail, and she can make adjustments if need be. She hopes to be able to keep her current staff onboard.
"We're working on our website, and if we do curbside pickup, someone will need to be here for that. There won't be as many hours, but in January there aren't as many hours anyway because business slows down so much," she said.
Graham Braun, one of the founders of Monigram Coffee Roasters in Cambridge, said he's also feeling more confident going into lockdown.
He said his business pivoted to online and curbside pickup during the early months of the pandemic, which helped keep business afloat.
"We did have to layoff some staff, and even now, we're not back to full strength, but we do know that we've been busy enough that we can withstand another lockdown if that's what it takes."
Braun said he hoped there would have been more notice.
"We kind of expected this was coming, but we do have fridges and freezers full of things and that's a hard adjustment to make when we're not going to have anyone coming in for food or drink." he said.
'This is what we have to do'
The Voila Institute of Hair Design in downtown Kitchener is working on next steps, institute coordinator Melissa Falconer said
During lockdown, Falconer said the salon floor will close and students may have to move to online learning again.
"When you go into a career like hair styling, you're a hands-on learner and moving into something more virtual is challenging for everyone involved," she said.
"It's completely necessary due to the circumstances we're in, but it's easier this time because we are prepared."
