Small businesses scramble

“To stay or to go?”

That’s the question staff at PJ’s Deli are used to asking before the end of every transaction in the 34-year-old Newton restaurant.

Now, there’s no need to ask.

On Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency, a response to COVID-19. The state will take “significant steps to require social distancing and limit community spread of the virus,” Reynolds said in a press release. Temporary measures have already been put in place.

A few hours or so before Iowans left work for their lunch breaks, Reynolds ordered restaurants in the state to close dine-in services. Bars that had prepared for a thirsty St. Patrick’s Day crowd were forced to close. Other recreational facilities, like movie theaters and casinos, had to lock their doors as well.

Bars and restaurants may still continue to use carry-out, drive-through and delivery services of food and beverages, Reynolds later clarified in a tweet. The declaration affects fitness centers, senior citizen and adult daycare facilities and gatherings of more than 10 people.

“These are unprecedented times and the state of Iowa will do whatever is necessary to address this public health disaster. I have authorized all available state resources, supplies, equipment and materials to combat the spread of COVID-19,” Reynolds said.

“The actions taken today are necessary to protect the health and safety of all Iowans and are critical to mitigating the spread of the virus.”

Until the community spread of the novel coronavirus is contained, several local shops and businesses will feel the brunt of these mandates. Since the governor’s orders went into effect at noon Tuesday, business owners in Jasper County were given little time to react and properly develop a plan.

Shortly after the announcement of the statewide closures, customers were still walking through the doors of PJ’s Deli. Staff were quick to modify the business, too. Instead of allowing customers to eat at tables and booths, staff only fixed to-go and pick-up orders.

If need be, Cara Muta said, employees may deliver the restaurant’s signature deli sandwiches and soups to curbside customers parked along the edge of the building. Muta is also thinking about allowing customers to pay over the phone with credit or debit cards and then picking up meals at a select table.

“You don’t even have to interact with us as you walk in,” Muta said. “You can just walk in the door, grab it and then take it right out. Hopefully some of those things, too, will encourage people to still come in and get their PJ’s sandwich.”

Muta later said business was adversely affected. She and her staff noticed “a pretty significant drop.” PJ’s Deli will continue to follow any directives issued to restaurants while trying its best to meet the needs of their customers and workers. Muta is worried how these changes will impact small businesses.

“Without foot traffic, without customers we don’t have any other source of income for paying our employees,” Muta said. “We’re concerned about how we are going to help our employees if sales really drop.”

Some of PJ’s sandwich makers have been working at the deli since 1993. Muta has been following Iowa Restaurant Association’s practices and guidelines for the novel coronavirus. Daily chores like cleaning the dining room and sanitizing furnishings have been “ramped up” considerably.

Employees will even wear gloves during a transaction.

Across the street at Midtown Cafe, owner Gary Sharpnack had a new game plan, too. The restaurant was still full of employees who have bills to pay, so Sharpnack decided the longtime Newton restaurant will still deliver meals to anybody in Newton. Curbside pickup is also available at Midtown Cafe.

Midtown Cafe delivery will persist from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. The restaurant will close on Sundays. Sharpnack said there will be no dine-in service for about six to eight weeks. The restaurant will also use a limited menu, available on its Facebook page.

“This is the world, man,” he said. “… We were doing alright until a couple of hours ago. Everybody is scared now. But they can still enjoy Midtown because I’ll come in and get it happening.”

Other restaurants in the county decided to close entirely due to COVID-19 concerns. Brad Magg, owner of the Prairie City diner Goldie’s Ice Cream Shoppe, said he voluntarily closed off the dining room to the community, and is still offering to-go meals from the takeout window for a limited time.

Starting Thursday, Goldie’s is temporarily closing. Magg announced his decision one day before Reynolds’ mandates. Employees will be paid during the closure. Tipped employees’ wages will shift to hourly wages, as well. Magg promised the restaurant will be back when the virus subsides.

“Over these 13 years at Goldie’s we’ve really created a bond with our customers and the community,” he said. “As we were deliberating and looking around seeing our clientele that we had joining us, it just felt like it was the right thing to do … We want to be proactive and hopefully keep the spread at bay.”

Also, Magg took into account the amount of out-of-town customers who visit Goldie’s, which outnumber local customers. Although Goldie’s could stay open with the drive-thru and walk-up window access, he does not want the restaurant to take any more risk than it is already taking.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Magg said.

Closing down a business temporarily is costly. Still, Magg does not want to leave his employees without pay. Even though Goldie’s would lose about $25,000 every month it is not open, Magg believes it is the right thing to do to help his employees.

“A couple days here and there may be one thing — a week, two weeks, a month or two months just isn’t practical or feasible for any of them,” he said. “… It’s very concerning and very stressful, but we want customers and the community to be there when it’s safe to open back up.”

Other area business owners likely share Magg's sentiments. Dawn Bleeker, owner of the Capitol II Theatre, closed the downtown Newton movie theater per Reynolds' orders. However, Bleeker is unsure if there will be any movies to screen when her business does open to the pubic once again.

Film studios have delayed the release of several movies since the COVID-19 exposure. If Capitol II Theatre had been open next weekend, Bleeker was not sure she would have any new films to show to audiences. The theater may have had to resort to releasing older movies.

“Even if the governor says we can re-open, we may not have anything to re-open with,” Bleeker said. “… Some people have said to me, ‘You guys should just be closing! You shouldn’t be open!’ It’s not as simple as that. Sure, we can close but we still have bills to pay for the theater.

“Take it a step further — that’s my livelihood.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com