More than ever, local businesses need your help
Local businesses are created, survive and thrive using creativity, innovation and pure determination.
That’s never been so apparent as right now. During the COVID-19 pandemic, adaptation is the name of the game. From drive-thru food and drink sales to crowdfunding, the solutions continue to surprise.
Kudos to them. After all, small businesses are the backbone of the local economy. The Republic supports those
efforts, helping clients find solutions daily. And we’re part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, which just launched supportlocal.azcentral.com.
Right now, businesses can register for free at the site and sell gift cards for future use. The site will evolve with new features as days and weeks of the new normal settle in. On Friday, 58 listings were there for Greater Phoenix.
Buy gift cards. Order from neighborhood businesses web site. Pay your hairdresser or nail salon person in advance. All can help them keep afloat until we recover.
Of course, Republic reporters are documenting local businesses constantly:
❚ FilmBar in downtown Phoenix is an oasis for moviegoers that was walloped by the novel coronavirus. Owners offered supporters a $10.95 “ticket” to a film, buy a $40 gift card or pay $120 and get a single movie ticket every day for the rest of your life. It worked. The latest: Enough money was raised to pay employees and even help neighboring businesses.
❚ In Scottsdale and uptown Phoenix, Los Sombreros is known for its best-selling Steve-A-Rita. After closing for 10 days, the owner came up with a new plan: Sell the margaritas and dinner-to-go at a drive-through window. “Luckily our parking lot is already a kind of U shape,” owner Colleen Riske said. The system is contact-free, using a pizza spatula to pass food to customers.
The Republic/azcentral is helping Arizona’s non-profit community with our online resource list and community partnerships. And we also want to help local businesses navigate the crisis so we all emerge stronger.