It’s not easy for small business owners right now.
Danielle Scherban, owner of Northwest Goods and Mike Readman, manager of B&B Roadhouse Bar & Grill in Dryden are voicing their concerns for the small business community, amid another province-wide shutdown to curb COVID-19.
“I was shocked to see our region go into another shutdown,” said Scherban, who’s experiencing her second province wide shutdown of the COVID-19 pandemic since opening Northwest Goods in the fall of 2020. “I thought that with this new colour coded system, I wasn’t going to get shutdown again. It makes me feel a little bit better that they’re also restricting other non-essential items in the big box stores.”
In previous shutdowns, big box store items weren’t restricted.
Scherban believes people see North Western Ontario as separate from Southern Ontario.
Danielle Sherban of North West Goods/NW Goods Facebook Page
“Lot’s of people have seen videos of the crowded malls (before there were more restrictions) in other areas of the province and we just don’t see that here, we don’t even have that kind of shopping. So that was pretty shocking to me, to see that. We have such different communities here and I hope local people will still support local.”
While Scherban is offering curbside, she hopes people keep our local personal care, restaurant and fitness businesses in mind who are having to face even more restrictions.
“It’s hard to know what to do, but I hope that our communities can continue to support our small businesses and hopefully they’re all still there when this is all over.”
Scherban notes she’s trying to keep her chin up doing curbside orders a few days a week, learning last shutdown it’s too draining to operate five days a week, with no one allowed to come into your store.
Northwest Goods is open for curbside pick up Wednesday’s 3-5pm, Saturday’s 10am-12pm with local delivery and items can be viewed online.
The restaurant industry has also been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, including right here at home.
“We employ usually a minimum of 35-40 employees in B&B Roadhouse,” says manager Mike Readman. “But over the last year between all of the different shutdowns and all of the different zone requirements it’s really been a juggling of staff, right now we’re down to very minimal staff.”
B&B Roadhouse Logo/Facebook
The biggest change over the last year for B&B’s was the pivot to doing more take out and delivery, as Readman explains they’ve also had to get creative to drive more income.
“Now with store capacity being reduced again, we thought it was a good time to come in because we have commercial access to most items that a grocery store would have. In order to keep a few people working and keep a positive cash flow, we’re selling grocery packs.”
At the same time, Readman isn’t sure what the future holds for his business or the industry as a whole after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
“I think we’ve got a long road ahead of us and significant losses to overcome if we can. We’re so accustomed to sit down dining, we have a 144 seats so it’s definitely a harder way to keep the doors open, but thankfully we have a great local support. We do need to get back to dine in of some kind at some point in the future, what that looks like is still up in the air.”
Like many Ontario restaurants, this is the third time B&B’s has been forced to close their doors.
Right now B&B’s offers takeout and delivery on their regular menu, with weekly grocery box options posted to their social media.
Full interview with Danielle Scherban-Northwest Goods
Full interview with Mike Readman-B&B Roadhouse
