COVID-19 Closures?

[Cali-Glock]

What has actually closed due to COVID-19?

I don't know anyone who has not been working through this entire COVID-19 period.

I know some restaurants have closed and many have shorter hours; but it seems like most have continued doing business with take-out or seating in their parking lots.

I picked up some food at a restaurant yesterday and the parking lot looked pretty full, outdoor seating looked packed and the outdoor seating for a bar a couple doors down was also packed and I did not see any masks on the patrons... which I guess makes sense - how can you drink your beer with a stupid mask on... which I am okay with... but what is the point of this silly non-lock-down that apparently no one follows?

It seems like most parking lots for store-front businesses are packed when I am out and about and I have passed on shopping more than once because I have never seen so many people at these establishments before. I did not do much of the shopping I was hoping to accomplish yesterday because the crowds were insane.

I keep reading online about a supposed COVID-19 lockdown and people being out of work, but in the real world I see no sign of this being true.

What is your experience?

What is reality?

What businesses have actually shut down? Who is out of work?

[inthemountains]

In my town a few hair salons have closed, looks like for good. Couple of restaurants are not open at all and a bar or two also not open.

Other than that most restaurants are still serving indoor/outdoor and doing take out. Also saw some open bars (of course all of this is against the rules). The gym I drive by on my to work every morning is still open.

I have not missed any work at all, no one at my work has gotten the "Rona" and we don't wear masks or social distance etc...we are also not open to the public.

I say open it up and if your older take what ever precautions you need to to feel safe.

[Sydwaiz]

I have several friends in the food service industry who are out of work right now. Several other restaurant owners I know have laid most of their staff off and are struggling to keep the lights on. To go orders just aren't cutting it.

I have a small manufacturing business and deemed essential so luckily I'm able to stay open. Several of my employees have contracted Covid and have had to take time off. One of my long time employees is currently in ICU on a ventilator. No transmissions can be traced to my facility though. They were stupid and got together with other family members over Thanksgiving.

[anthonyca]

I have several friends in the food service industry who are out of work right now. Several other restaurant owners I know have laid most of their staff off and are struggling to keep the lights on. To go orders just aren't cutting it.

I have a small manufacturing business and deemed essential so luckily I'm able to stay open. Several of my employees have contracted Covid and have had to take time off. One of my long time employees is currently in ICU on a ventilator. No transmissions can be traced to my facility though. They were stupid and got together with other family members over Thanksgiving.

Does the pwrsonnon the ventilator have comorbidities? What is rhier age and race? Overweight?

[user120312]

Customers disappeared, cold calls became problematical with lockdown, sold assets to pay bills, at-risk age group, latest lockdowns/restrictions have dried up even the bottom feeders for machinery and inventory. The hay trucks down the road don't haul hay anymore and I note only one trip out each day now, pretty much otherwise dead, few vehicles on the road, when out cutting wood to heat the house I'll see four or five in a half-day. Usually almond pruning is going on right now but nothing, did hear the sprayers in the distance a few nights ago spreading fungicide. Else, like the back side of the moon, dead.
In the real world IME it's been pretty much like CG, people wanting to pick one's skills and experience for free. I did offer a new Grundfos pump to one guy looking at hot water recirc and shared my experience doing installs, no thanks, no contact. Pretty much like in real life. It is what it is.

That lady in LA who's suing regarding her dining area being shut down versus the film crew feed lot being open next door, perhaps that's the ticket. Looks like she got some big shot lawyers to sue the government pro bono. Publicity brings go fund me cash injections. Then she can run for Congress like Shelley Luther did after she got stuck in jail for operating her salon in violation of lockdowns. Seems like that's the ticket. Being female helps. People are more sympathetic to females, KISA syndrome. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

[JustJoshinYa]

I currently work at a restaurant/bar and all of our hours have been drastically cut I used to work about 36-40 hours a week now with reduced hours and only being able to do take out last week I logged 13 hours and this week I'll only get 8 hours due to being closed Christmas and closing even earlier Christmas eve.

The owner has already given us a heads up that he cant do this much longer and we all may be out of a job by February if things dont start opening back up. Take out revenues most the time doesn't even cover labor let alone the rest of overhead and any profit. So I may be looking for a job real soon.

[harbormaster]

There are some small retail businesses I know that are closing / already closed. One was a jewelry story; he told me hoped to make it through the holidays, valentines day, etc., but just didn't want to pay the rent to get there. He closed in September. Several restaurants. On the retail side it has to be a great thing for amazon / walmart to kill the competition.

[vino68]

Driving around LA, I see many places closed and some say out of business.
I have family and friends who are out of work because their employer is not allowed to open. This will be the real toll of the rona.

[Swagman00]

What has actually closed due to COVID-19?

I don't know anyone who has not been working through this entire COVID-19 period.

I know some restaurants have closed and many have shorter hours; but it seems like most have continued doing business with take-out or seating in their parking lots.

I picked up some food at a restaurant yesterday and the parking lot looked pretty full, outdoor seating looked packed and the outdoor seating for a bar a couple doors down was also packed and I did not see any masks on the patrons... which I guess makes sense - how can you drink your beer with a stupid mask on... which I am okay with... but what is the point of this silly non-lock-down that apparently no one follows?

It seems like most parking lots for store-front businesses are packed when I am out and about and I have passed on shopping more than once because I have never seen so many people at these establishments before. I did not do much of the shopping I was hoping to accomplish yesterday because the crowds were insane.

I keep reading online about a supposed COVID-19 lockdown and people being out of work, but in the real world I see no sign of this being true.

What is your experience?

What is reality?

What businesses have actually shut down? Who is out of work?

I will be the first to refute this personally.

On March 10th I was furloughed the first time then working part time at another job two to maybe three days a week and collecting spotty unemployment. Lo-and behold a week from Nov 2nd I was notified that we would be returning to work on our standard schedules. Three weeks in we were then told of the reduced hours by at least 1/3rd because of us trying to accommodate a shift for everyone. Two weeks later were locked down AGAIN by the 7th and I'm still on standby until further notice. I'm still waiting for my last check so I can notify EDD what I made so I don't get burned by misreporting my income.

I don't want to directly say what I do because Livermore is a small town. I've run into a few Calgunners by accident around the Tri-valley and the last thing I need are people that don't like us here finding out who we are and deciding to tip off the alphabet boys for a possible swatting...or otherwise...

I really think the reality of this is total BS where "they" want to either maintain control or maybe edge us toward something more nefarious. I'm generating maybe 60% of my original income at this point. All the bills are getting paid, but I'm not profiting much. Is the state government TRYING to get people more friendly to a socialistic mindset that something can be had for nothing? Is it a gauge to see who is willing to comply and who is not?

All I really know is that something is wrong. I really wish I had more than that.

[SanDiego619]

Tons of restaurants around here have permanently closed.

[Maulerrr]

I work in hospitality. Our employees on payroll were cut down from 540 at the start of 2020 to currently 60+ on the books today.

Our entire catering and banquets departments were wiped out and no longer exist. Half of our housekeepers were severed. Most of our restaurant staff haven't worked since March. Our Spa team got to come back to work for a little bit but then they got furloughed again a couple weeks ago.

My direct boss was laid off and his position dissolved, same with quite a few others in management spots. I got a promotion back in February then kicked back down to my previous position in March with the promotion position dissolved.

Last Christmas week in 2019, hotel occupancy was 105%. This week we're 12%, and once the holidays are over we dip to 3% to 5%. There just isn't the business coming in right now either for us to justify bringing people back from furlough.

This is the common trend with most properties in heavy lockdown states like CA.

[jackw007]

What has actually closed due to COVID-19?

I don't know anyone who has not been working through this entire COVID-19 period.

I know some restaurants have closed and many have shorter hours; but it seems like most have continued doing business with take-out or seating in their parking lots.

I picked up some food at a restaurant yesterday and the parking lot looked pretty full, outdoor seating looked packed and the outdoor seating for a bar a couple doors down was also packed and I did not see any masks on the patrons... which I guess makes sense - how can you drink your beer with a stupid mask on... which I am okay with... but what is the point of this silly non-lock-down that apparently no one follows?

It seems like most parking lots for store-front businesses are packed when I am out and about and I have passed on shopping more than once because I have never seen so many people at these establishments before. I did not do much of the shopping I was hoping to accomplish yesterday because the crowds were insane.

I keep reading online about a supposed COVID-19 lockdown and people being out of work, but in the real world I see no sign of this being true.

What is your experience?

What is reality?

What businesses have actually shut down? Who is out of work?

This is actually a great question to ask, and my suspicion is that if you are fortunate enough to work for a large company and/or can easily work from home that it's really easy to miss how horrific these lockdowns have actually been. I don't think that there's a general understanding of how slim the margins are that so many small and medium sized businesses operate on.

Here are some articles that speak to the impact:

https://www.womply.com/blog/report-how-many-local-businesses-have-had-to-close-due-to-covid-19/

https://abc7news.com/small-business-coronavirus-businesses-close-permanently-in-bay-area-closed-data-struggling-owners/6369826/

More than 2,000 San Francisco businesses permanently closed since March, data shows: 'It's their life's work'
The new reality is answering this question: How can I pay the bills?

https://nypost.com/2020/09/17/majority-of-covid-19-business-closures-are-permanent-report/

Nearly 60 percent of COVID-19 business closures are permanent: report

None of this is a surprise. All of this is intentional destruction leveled by state and county bureaucrats. And all of it is absolutely ignored when these same bureaucrats are telling you that their actions are to "save lives".

[Cali-Glock]

I currently work at a restaurant/bar and all of our hours have been drastically cut I used to work about 36-40 hours a week now with reduced hours and only being able to do take out last week I logged 13 hours and this week I'll only get 8 hours due to being closed Christmas and closing even earlier Christmas eve.

The owner has already given us a heads up that he cant do this much longer and we all may be out of a job by February if things dont start opening back up. Take out revenues most the time doesn't even cover labor let alone the rest of overhead and any profit. So I may be looking for a job real soon.

Thank you for sharing - I am sorry to hear of your challenges. I figured the restaurant and bar business had to be the hardest hit; and the wait staff being the hardest hit among that group. I live in the boonies and don't get out much - especially during this past 9 months of COVID - but I try to order food-to-go when I am out and about and have tried a bunch of places I have never frequented previously. If I can get semi-decent service and edible food I will probably come back - but more and more places are seemingly incapable of offering either.

During this COVID-19 period a growing number of restaurants have been crossed off my list of businesses I will support: some for poor service but a fair number because of employees wearing BLM or other similarly offensive clothing.

Two poor service stories from this week:

FIRST:
95-98% of the staff at my place of employment have been working from home since March. Someone on my team mentioned that they missed doughnut Fridays. My plan was to buy doughnuts and deliver them to members of my team as a fun way of saying Merry Christmas. It was more than an hour drive to the freaking donut shop (Krispy Cream). I made my order; the genius at the donut shop did a kind of stoner "wait...what?"
deal and I repeated my order. He then mumbled something about chocolate. All I heard was mumbling and chocolate. I told him I did not understand what he was asking or telling me. He repeated his mumbling and again the only word I could make out was chocolate. I had not ordered any chocolate donuts. I again I told him I had no idea what he was trying to say. He went back to mumbling something about chocolate. I asked if I needed to repeat my order? Again the mumble about chocolate. This went on for some time... I honestly felt like he must be mocking me. Really. It was freaking bizarre.

I looked around - shrugged said I give up and left.

SECOND:
Earlier this week a 'local' restaurant posted on Facebook that they had the lowest number of customers ever that day... I have not frequented this place in months... and was tempted to respond to this FB post with an explanation as to why I (and surely many others) were not frequenting their business: I wanted to say something like "Not surprising given that your food is marginal and your service is atrocious - only once - ONCE have you gotten my order correct."

But I am really trying to limit my arse-holeish nature and I did not post anything.

What in the name of food service is going on with these places?!

[Cali-Glock]

I will be the first to refute this personally.

On March 10th I was furloughed the first time then working part time at another job two to maybe three days a week and collecting spotty unemployment. Lo-and behold a week from Nov 2nd I was notified that we would be returning to work on our standard schedules. Three weeks in we were then told of the reduced hours by at least 1/3rd because of us trying to accommodate a shift for everyone. Two weeks later were locked down AGAIN by the 7th and I'm still on standby until further notice. I'm still waiting for my last check so I can notify EDD what I made so I don't get burned by misreporting my income.

I don't want to directly say what I do because Livermore is a small town. I've run into a few Calgunners by accident around the Tri-valley and the last thing I need are people that don't like us here finding out who we are and deciding to tip off the alphabet boys for a possible swatting...or otherwise...

I really think the reality of this is total BS where "they" want to either maintain control or maybe edge us toward something more nefarious. I'm generating maybe 60% of my original income at this point. All the bills are getting paid, but I'm not profiting much. Is the state government TRYING to get people more friendly to a socialistic mindset that something can be had for nothing? Is it a gauge to see who is willing to comply and who is not?

All I really know is that something is wrong. I really wish I had more than that.

Thank you for sharing - I am sorry to hear of your employment challenges.

[Hoologan]

Mostly the jobs of people who can least afford it.