Downtown Salinas businesses hope for good winter amid COVID-19 pandemic
SALINAS, Calif. (KION) As the COVID-19 pandemic looks set to last into next year, businesses in downtown are hoping for the best during the winter months, when temperatures will get colder.
The downtown association says at least two places have shut down for good as a direct result of the pandemic, not helped by the shelter in place order. They worry winter could add to that number.
Long-time downtown Salinas Mexican restaurant La Fogata now sits empty and abandoned -- a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some say, of the construction going on on Main Street.
Empty spaces where businesses should go are a common site in downtown, like the old Beverly Fabrics building or two lots that a neighboring shop says were vacated recently.
Business is back at Hair Studio 212 after new state guidelines allowed them to reopen a few weeks ago, but concern over more closures in winter time have never beeen higher.
"I'm thinking about winter time, but hopefully not. I'm being positive that we stay open," said Maria, the owner of Hair Studio 212.
Downtown was by no means empty Friday night with plenty of patrons coming out to enjoy the restaurants and bars. But Friday night staples like 201 Main's dance club and the historic Fox Theater still remain closed at this time with nightlife largely not allowed in the heavily impacted counties like Monterey.
The downtown association says in the last six months, most businesses are getting by, but winter could make it harder for restaurants to attract customers with colder temps.
"You have to look to the winter and say what's going to be happening, does the city have a long term plan, does the community development department have a plan, and we'll go from there," said Kevin Dayton, the government affairs director at the Salinas City Center.
"You look at all these guys over there, they have propane tanks running the whole time. It's going to be tough just as a business expense," said Jeremiah O'Connell, a Salinas resident.
Restaurants are getting some help from the city: the city council approved to defer sidewalk-use permit fees for outside dining areas until next year. The downtown association does not expect taxes to go down for businesses, however.
One thing is clear: no one wants anything to close down permanently.
"Oh, it'd be the worst. That's why we come down here. We're not going to like those chain stores like McDonald's or Jack in the Box to go hang out with our friends," said Morgan Anguiano, a Prunedale resident.
"It can be possible, but I don't know. Depending on if we close again, probably a lot of business are going to be out of business. But we're still open, I think we're going to be OK," said Maria.
