After Effects

Small businesses in Ocean City have adapted, improved, and gotten creative during closings/restricted openings

It’s as if we were watching a Twilight Zone episode on the outside of our television screens.

No hand sanitizer or toilet paper to be found. No construction, schools, rentals, gyms, or pretty much anything recreational for that matter. 8pm curfew. Even before curfew each night, in many places it has been rare to recognize a familiar face, mostly because it was covered up by a mask. Everyone is keeping their distance, trying to stay coronavirus free, and biding their time until this is all over. Though things have begun to open, it’s been a long road.

In some Ocean City businesses, there’s been a bustle of activity. Convenience stores such as CVS and ACME supermarkets are firing on all cylinders to keep the essentials out on the shelves as best they can for those who need it. Businesses deemed as essential by the governor have seen an influx of traffic not usually seen during these times of the year. Many flocked down to OC in order to be quarantined here—because if you are going to be in lockdown, why not be where the ocean is within earshot?

Although non-essential stores have been closed, quarantine has allowed enterprises making up the Ocean City economy a chance to restructure. With no customers and plenty of time to think, managers of some local businesses have been able to get their stores in tip top shape. Reorganizing shelves through planogram changes and shifting displays to different areas, local businesses have been able to figure out how to utilize their facilities in more efficient ways.

“We never had time to repair,” says Fritz Hastings, a local personal trainer and part owner of Local Gym & Fitness. “Nobody is coming in to do major construction projects that you might not finish. You do band-aid stuff and it looks horrible.”

Always improving

In the time the gym has been required to be closed, Fritz, his fellow owners, and a group of handyman friends have been hard at work giving their facility a total makeover in order to utilize the space as best as they can. Following government regulations and social distancing guidelines, they took the opportunity quarantine gave them in order to better organize the facility for the day the doors are allowed to open back up.

“We averaged probably six to seven hours a day and did not miss a day for 34 days before taking a day off,” said Fritz about his renovations so far. “I talk to my partners about what we are doing each time. We came in each day and decided what we were going to renovate. This is the fifth iteration of the area [since we originally opened] but this is the one that works the best.”

Local Gym and other businesses are also looking at personnel changes. While the gym’s regular employees will be there, customers are going to be able to get to know the owners a lot more this summer.

“We will get by but the owners will be on the premises,” said Fritz.

“It is all about businesses trying to survive,” said Joseph Babcock, owner of Luigi’s Italian Restaurant.

Joseph is set on bringing back summer employees, but intends to be in the kitchen at his restaurant more than before. It is all about saving costs, these owners know, but they do want to give their loyal employees as much of a chance to make money as themselves. Owners stepping in isn’t necessarily a move to make a profit, but to keep their iconic businesses in Ocean City afloat. Restaurants and eateries have converted to a takeout and limited menu style of serving, seeing what they can do with the restrictions they currently have to operate in. On June 15, restaurants are allowed to open with outdoor dining.

“Ninety-five percent of what we did was sit down, and we have now adapted to take out. Our capacity has gone from 85 to 40 people. Fortunately, regular customers have been supportive, calling and wanting our food,” said Joseph.

Adapting to the situation

Luigi’s has their outdoor dining section ready… there are picnic tables, lights, flowers, all bringing a fun, cool patio vibe to the restaurant.

In dealing with the situation coronavirus has put everyone in though, many restaurant owners have come to see that they are not rivals so much as cooperating businesses. There may be customers flocking to one eatery at one time or another. But that does not mean it is doom for other establishments.

“It’s friendly,” said Sandy Colao, manager at Prep’s Pizza on the Boardwalk. “There is enough to go around.”

While the time under lockdown has brought new and inventive solutions to some problems, COVID-19 still brings consequences to the city that hang over many business owner’s heads. The solutions that have been thought of during quarantine are not the answer to everything while everyone re-establishes the idea of what our new normal might be.

“There is no guarantee we will ever have what we think is normal again,” said Fritz. “It’s a very dodgy situation. We will probably be wearing masks in situations we normally would not. If I am in a Wal-Mart there is a likelihood I will continue to wear my mask, even if it is three years from now.”