News
Athens Uptown Businesses Concerned About Coronavirus Impact
By: Claudia Cisneros
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — As the coronavirus spread continues, the impact on the economy is still hard to gauge. But businesses in Uptown Athens are already concerned.
Ohio University announced the suspension of in-person classes earlier this week and students were asked not to come back from Spring Break for the next three weeks. This has Uptown businesses scrambling to plan for the absence of customers.
“It’s going to impact all of us downtown,” said Debby Fulks, owner of Court Street Coffee.
She added that they are already adjusting shifts for her employees.
“I’m trying to keep my full time employers with some hours. The layoffs will come probably form my student workers, unfortunately.”
Charlie Fulks, Court Street Coffee Manager, said Ohio University students are the bloodline of the economy in Athens and “our businesses are supported by students and faculty and staff and if they’re not here, then, we may not be here by the end of the semester.”
These include disinfecting and wiping off tables and chairs after each customer’s use.
“We’ve instituted lots of multiple times a day cleaning with the disinfectant, to all kinds of door handles, restrooms, kitchen refrigerator door handles,” she said.
Donkey Coffee owner, Chris Pyle, said the impact is still hard to measure because things are at their usual slow spring break pace so far.
“If it’s extended for the full semester and most students don’t comeback until the fall that will be incredible tough for us. I think most businesses are probably the same way. Some may even go out of business if school doesn’t resume in April.”
While business owners continue to wait, the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging businesses to review and enact their Business Continuity plans and asking consumers to support businesses while taking the necessary precautions.