Businesses brace for lockdown
Small shops could have operated safely but didn't get chance, BIA chair believes
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely cut into Gerard Fahd's business and the latest lockdown will trim profits further.
Fahd said client traffic plummeted at Gentlemen's Choice barbershop on University Avenue West in downtown Windsor since the pandemic began last March. But the latest lockdown comes at the busiest time of the year for barbers and hairdressers.
“It's absolutely horrible for the business,” Fahd said. “The last shutdown cut my business down by approximately 50 per cent, I would say.”
He said about half his clientele did not return when the shop reopened, due mainly to its dependence on downtown office workers.
“Everybody's working from home, which is for most people outside of downtown and a lot of people just won't drive back downtown just to get a haircut,” he said.
“There's the loss of business from people just doing their own self-grooming because in a lot of cases people don't have anywhere to go so they don't really care what they look like.
“And people are also still scared,”
Fahd added. “It's a combination of a lot of things and it's really been destructive on the business absolutely.
“(The lockdown) is only going to make things worse.”
The timing of the lockdown couldn't be more unwelcome as the busy holiday season is in full swing.
“This is the busiest month of the year for us. It was an opportunity to make up for lost income,” Fahd said. “It's not good for business at all, any way you look at it, I guess.
“With Christmas coming up, especially, the last two weeks of December are probably the busiest two weeks of the year for us.”
According to the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, under the grey lockdown level all personal-care services such as barbers, salons and spas must completely close, along with numerous other businesses.
Many restaurants and retail stores can offer only takeout or curbside pickup.
There are exceptions for grocery, convenience and hardware stores and those that sell beer, wine and/ or liquor and pharmacies, where in-store shopping is permitted at 50-per-cent capacity.
Larry Horwitz, chairman of the
Wyandotte Street Business Improvement Area, said it's a difficult time for businesses and many owners feel a lockdown closing storefronts wasn't necessary because “there's a way of letting people into the shops — less people, in a safe manner with masks.
“It's a bit of a letdown,” Horwitz said. “I think the long-term effect on small business and shops hasn't been felt yet. I don't know what that will be.
“What this does is create an underground economy. They might still do the business, but it won't be in storefronts, on the streets. It won't help grow a community. It will hurt the community.”
Gentlemen's Choice is normally open six days a week, closed only on Sundays.
“I was just telling my wife, I hope this doesn't last longer than the 28 days (the initial time frame for the
lockdown) but I don't know, today with the high (COVID-19 positive) numbers that are showing up, it doesn't seem to be going in the right direction for it to not go longer,” Fahd said.
“Especially after Christmas, I can imagine they're going to have a bit more of a spike in cases,” he added. “The one nice thing about our business is its fairly consistent year round … under normal circumstances.”
Horwitz also hopes the lockdown is short lived.
“I think a lot of businesses have taken an early Christmas, so I don't know what the fallout will be down the road in a month or two after this,” he said. “Let's hope that the government decides to become more flexible and allow shops safely to reopen in not too long a period.”