Kate Wheeler, Savory Spice Shop

Curbside service was nothing new for Kate Wheeler when the pandemic steamrolled into the retail world.

Since opening Savory Spice Shop in 2013, she has brought merchandise to customers stopped in the loading zone at the Galisteo Street store that specializes in specialty spices and other ingredients.

“Parking downtown sucks,” she says.

Curbside made up maybe 5 percent of her business before March. But now, it’s at least 60 percent. Wheeler also has a table at the front of the store with carryout orders.

“It has certainly taken some creativity to stay open,” Wheeler says. To make it through, Wheeler acknowledges, there have been many sacrifices. She laid off all her employees for three months and worked 70-hour weeks to run the store by herself. The federal Paycheck Protection Program allowed her to bring three workers back.

“I did go down about 50 percent income for at least four months,” Wheeler said. “I took a pay cut and gave [my employees] raises.”

Wheeler also closed Savory Spice for July and August while she devised a strategy to keep the store safe for customers and employees. The tastings and smellings are gone. Hand sanitizer is available at the front door.

For the year, revenue is down 42 percent — and that includes 30 percent gains for January and February.

“My inventory is tight,” Wheeler says. “I would say we have a third of the inventory we normally have for the holiday season.” Still, a loyal following has enabled Savory Spice to keep going. “If I made it through this year, I can persevere,” Wheeler says, though she has asked herself many times if it’s worth it to continue.

“I think about all the bosses I’ve had,” she says, describing the answer. “I don’t want to have a boss again.”