Support the locals as businesses begin to open

It’s with much anticipation, excitement and a little bit of dread that businesses throughout Illinois will start reopening Friday.

Just because they can open, doesn’t mean they will.

It’s easy to shut down, but it’s more difficult to open the doors again, especially when there will be restrictions on the number of customers that will be allowed into an establishment and that customers and staff will have to abide by certain safety precautions.

Making those adjustments will not be cheap and business owners will have to weigh whether the extra costs associated with reopening will be worth it. Some will decide that it’s too soon to reopen with COVID-19 still a threat and will take a cautious approach to protect customers and staff. There are plenty of challenges ahead.

A couple of times a year we write editorials encouraging people to shop at local small businesses whether it be a retailer, a hardware store or a restaurant. This time is no different.

If you are comfortable, if you feel safe, visit a business that has been closed since March and be as generous as you can when you order, buy and tip. You may not be able to because the shutdown affected your paycheck as well, but support a local business if you can.

If the stimulus check you received is extra money for you, consider treating yourself and supporting your community. And don’t forget nonprofits when you do so.

Just about every business was hurt by the shutdown that has been in place since mid-March, but small businesses especially are vulnerable.

A 2016 study by JP Morgan Chase Institute showed that half of small business held a cash buffer of 27 days of their typical spending. They’ve been closed more than twice that long with expenses such as utilities and rent going out and no money coming in.

Other studies show that the smaller the business, the bigger the risk of going out-of-business. Small businesses are the lifeblood of communities. We need them and they need us.

Economics aside, shopping at a local small business provides a better

customer experience. You probably know the person behind the counter and you may even know the owner. That should make you feel safer than dealing with strangers.

Small businesses give a community character. You can find chain stores in every city in the nation, but that locally owned store is something special in the community in which you live.

Our communities may never be the same after what we’ve collectively experienced the last few months, but we can get start getting on with our lives as best we can.

Most people in the region have been respectful, wearing masks, gloves and dutifully washing their hands until their fingers are pruney. That has helped keep the number of cases in our county relatively low.

Keep it up and if you do want to shop or dine, remember the locals.