Out-of-towners head to Santa Cruz County for open businesses
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) With the weekend approaching, many in the area are turning to Santa Cruz County, which has less restrictive COVID-19 closures, for their basic services like haircuts or going to the gym.
Businesses in Santa Cruz tell us they have been seeing a lot of out-of-town customers.
Gyms and nail salons in Monterey and San Benito Counties remain closed under stricter COVID-19 guidelines ever since the counties COVID cases placed them on the state's watch list a few weeks ago.
But in Santa Cruz County, the hair clippers are still buzzing at Cali Barbershop on Mission Street. While there are local residents who go get their hair done, customers are coming from all over the region.
"Mostly San Jose, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Gilroy, Salinas, Monterey, all over they coming here," said Karla Guandia, the Cali Barbershop owner.
Since Santa Cruz County is the only one not on the watch list in our area, churches, gyms, nail and hair salons can all still stay open, attracting people from everywhere.
"I really thanks to them that I be in business. Otherwise, I be completely broke," said Guandia.
While the trend may be a boon for businesses, like gyms who say they have seen some San Jose commuters come down, the influx of out-of-towners worry some local residents about how that could impact their COVID-19 status.
"I think that the most important thing right now is that everybody that does come to Santa Cruz makes a special effort to be conscientious in wearing a mask," said Rose McPherren, a Santa Cruz resident.
For Guandia, who relies heavily on the student population in Santa Cruz for business, it has been difficult to deal with the prospect of another closure.
"I think it's very good if the government takes another measure besides closing the business because I feel bad for all the people who have business and have to be closed," said Guandia.
