Coronavirus: Tri-Valley Businesses Face Dramatic Impacts

TRI-VALLEY, CA — Businesses in Tri-Valley and across the Golden State are grappling with unprecedented challenges as officials enact restrictions to combat the new coronavirus outbreak.

On Sunday Gov. Gavin Newsom called on seniors to stay home, and bars, wineries and taprooms to close. On Monday restaurants were ordered to focus on take-out and delivery, and turn away dine-in customers. Much of the Bay Area was ordered to shelter in place.

Smaller merchants have been hit particularly hard, say Tri-Valley business leaders. But these unusual circumstances have spurred some to get creative with their approach.

Murphy's Paw, a pet store with locations in Livermore and Pleasanton, offered free delivery to customers. Livermore-based Hop DeVine and Rusty's Bar & Grill partnered with Bay Area produce service C&L Produce to provide grocery boxes to the Tri-Valley.

Nottingham Cellars in Livermore organized curbside wine pickup for customers. SideTrack Bar + Grill in Pleasanton is allowing kids to eat free on weekdays this month.

The Town of Danville and Visit Tri-Valley organized lists of local merchants offering take-out services.

Though some have found a way to adapt, others struggle to get customers in the door.

Bilal Khadiri, co-owner of newly opened Mama's Take & Bake Pizza in Pleasanton, said he and business partner Jose Mena have grown worried since seeing a drop-off in customers lately.

The pair just opened the take-out-only pizza shop in February and were encouraged by good feedback in early days, but fewer people have showed up this week, Khadiri said.

"Maybe people are afraid to come out," he said.

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Tourism group Visit Tri-Valley has shifted its focus in recent days to focus on supporting local businesses. Visitor spending bolsters local communities, but the region won't have anything to offer visitors if locals and businesses aren't taken care of, said Robin Fahr, director of marketing and communications for Visit Tri-Valley.

"We gotta be here when (visitors) come back," she said. "It's a gem of a place."

Danville Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Zae Perrin said businesses are reporting losses of income from 20 to 100 percent.

While stores with essential supplies, like grocery or hardware stores, have seen an uptick in sales, some businesses, like indoor cycling venue StarCycle, voluntarily closed out of concern for public health, he said.

Businesses have been proactive in observing social distancing and practices related to cleanliness, health and safety, Perrin said.

"Extras" such as photography, consulting and restaurants are hit hard by recent events too. Some businesses have started furloughing workers.

"It's pretty dire out there for many," Perrin said.

Livermore Downtown Executive Director Rachael Snedecor said the organization is encouraging workers who have lost work to apply for unemployment as soon as possible. Workers across the country will be in the same boat, she said.

Those who still have work are facing a lot of unknowns, but are keeping up with best practices and trying to evolve to meet current needs. Some after-school and daycare centers have opened their doors all day to the children of health care workers, Snedecor said.

"Everybody's looking at how can they help and how can they step up," she said. "That's been really cool to watch."

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