These three businesses are ready to reopen
Sara and Tom Mann have an obvious love for each other, the community and their businesses — Mazahar, The Enchanted Toy Shoppe and Brickhouse Coffee. They shuttered the doors to all three when the Shelter-in-Place (SIP) order came into effect March 18.
The coffee house, being an essential business, could have remained open however they decided against offering take out.
Tom said, “The biggest thing was, at the very beginning of this whole process of sheltering in place, nobody knew what was going to happen. Thank God things have gone the way they have for our little end of the world but honestly we didn’t know what was going to happen, and neither did my staff.”
Tom said the staff at Brickhouse was concerned about what might happen with the coronavirus and together they decided to remain closed until more was known about how the virus would affect the local community. He immediately laid off his four employees. Tom said, “Now we have a better picture and I’m feeling a little more comfortable about starting to do takeout.”
In the meantime, Brickhouse has been revamping the floor plan, deep cleaning and revisiting the menu in preparation to reopen, which Sara says will happen soon in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols. Tom said that he expects the lack of visitors from out of town to put a further financial strain on the business when they reopen.
Mazahar and The Enchanted Toy Shoppe, which share the same building, were deemed non- essential and have been closed as well.
Sara has one employee that has been laid off and will be rehired once the store reopens. Sara said many companies that she deals with have been accommodating to allow for delayed payments during these uncertain times. She posted photos of merchandise online available through shipping to provide some financial relief for the businesses.
Sara said, “There is such an amazing community support, moral and otherwise.” People have been supporting the business through the purchase of raffle tickets and gift certifi
cates. Tom said, “We had an amazing amount of people buying gift certificates from us. It was inspirational to hear from our customers through that vehicle.”
The SIP has made the future unknown for many, especially small businesses. Sara said, “I hope that I can stay in business, I would like to stay in business for as long as I can because I love what I am doing. It’s my creative energy and love for the community and people.”
She said that as long as she can afford to run her
businesses, she will do so.
Sara stated she is ready to reopen when it is permitted and safe to do so with precautions such as masks and hand sanitizer in place. She said, “I’m ready to work with it harder than I have ever done, because that’s what it will take now.”
Both stores are stocked with clothes, books, toys and in no shortage of beautiful scarves that can serve as a face covering, which are mandatory while in public in Mendocino County.
Sara pointed out the importance of shopping locally for the good of the community and said that some people have the misconception that prices are cheaper on Amazon, she says her prices are the same or cheaper.
Tom and Sara remain positive during these uncertain times.
Sara said, “It’s a choice to focus on beauty and try to think about what am I envisioning here for the future.” Aside from keeping their businesses ready to reopen and serve the community, the Manns have been spending time with family and working on a vegetable garden in an attempt to bring beauty into the chaos.
When speaking of other lessons learned from the coronavirus crisis, Tom said, “You need to be able to take care of yourself for a certain amount of time and the people that you love and you care about. I think a lot of that is community production, not buying everything off- site. It’s your brick and mortar buildings that are going to be here if there’s a transportation failure.”
On a more personal level he said, “My goal is to remember that I don’t need to drive my car all the time, I can ride my bike. I should be in the garden every morning at 6:30 or 7 and work until 9 before I go to work. I don’t want to be so tangled up in the absolutely driving American economic business model. I need to take time for my family.”
Both said the SIP order has taught them a lot about balance in life. Sara said, “Life is so beautiful, and it’s up to us individually, it’s our choice what we want to see, what we experience… and what we do.”
Mazahar has been a Willits icon for 19 years, The Enchanted Toy Shoppe opened 5 years ago, and Brickhouse opened 6 years ago and has since served as a gathering place. The retails shops are currently offering curbside and mail delivery. Follow all three on Facebook for updates about reopening.
“I hope that I can stay in business, I would like to stay in business for as long as I can because I love what I am doing. It’s my creative energy and love for the community and people.”
— Sara Mann