Small Businesses Adapt to New Health Guidelines for COVID-19

EUREKA, Calif. (KIEM) – Many small businesses have shut down because of poor economic conditions and need to find new ways to stay afloat during this pandemic.

The paycheck protection program (PPP) is a government loan meant to help small businesses, but owner of AA Bar and Grill, Mike Munson, says, “The first round of PPP’s have been spent and are gone. The PPP barely covered what you lost for that period and it certainly isn’t going to cover what you lose for this period.”

AA Bar and Grill has learned to keep the business moving forward by adapting quickly to health guidelines. Customers can still safely dine-in by disinfecting and using their outdoor space.

A local, Bret Diehl, supports small businesses saying, “I support the 25% restriction in businesses and I think that with masks and social distancing I should be able to keep myself safe.”

Currently, the restaurant’s biggest challenge is controlling their inventory.

Munson explains, “The shorter the period that we have to shut down, the less time we have to get rid of inventory. And that’s a big cost for us. I think there’s a lot of mom and pop’s shops that are in a very difficult situation with this whether it’s a restaurant or a retail establishment.”

Local businesses must also keep in mind that new health guidelines have put in place a curfew that will start at 10 p.m. tomorrow.

AA Bar and Grill wants to do their part to keep the community safe saying, “We don’t have any plans to really fight the system. We want to be as compliant as possible. You know…we’ll do what we feel is appropriate and healthy.”