The journey back to a pre-pandemic economy took another leap when most of Indiana entered Stage 3 of the state’s reopening plan on May 22, but not everyone is jumping into action.
Retailers have been allowed to operate at different capacities since May 4 in most of the state, and as of May 11, indoor restaurant dining could open at 50%. Marion County, the hardest hit by the pandemic, is running behind most counties. Still, retail there was allowed to start reopening May 15 and on June 1, indoor dining could resume.
But just because state and local governments are giving business owners the green light to reopen doesn’t mean all of them are doing so. Industry leaders and business owners say the reasons range from safety concerns to financial feasibility. Some say they simply aren't ready, regardless of the state's timeline.
Gov. Eric Holcomb, the face of the state's reopening plan, isn't forcing anyone's hand.
"If you're not ready to open," he said in April, "don't."
Protecting the family
Wildgeese Bookshop, the beloved bookseller in downtown Franklin, could have opened its doors May 4. But owner Tiffany Lauderdale Phillips isn't ready to go that far, instead relying on online sales and appointments to serve customers.
"I never wanted an online business," she said. "I always wanted in-person, getting people together in real life, having real experiences."
But Phillips worries about the safety and of comfort of her customers and employees.
"I think my first priority is always how do my customers feel when they come into our store," Phillips said. "And if you are in a space as small as ours with a group of people and someone starts coughing, it makes everybody feel a little unhinged."
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Phillips also thinks about her young employees, and being able to look their parents in the eye and tell them she's doing everything she can to keep them safe.
Matt Wagner, vice president of revitalization programs for Main Street America, said "mom and pop" shops like Wildgeese tend to see their customers and employees as family, playing into decisions about reopening.
"There could be some apprehension about getting them sick," he said. "So they have a personal sort of part of this as well."
In a financial sense
Bluebeard bar and restaurant and the adjoining Amelia’s bakery in Fletcher Place announced May 22 that it would not open its doors to diners, despite any government OK to come.
“While plans to reopen ‘business as usual’ are unfolding around us, we can’t help but feel the right thing to do is to put the safety of our staff and community first,” owners said in a Facebook post. “It is too early and too risky for all of us to serve you within our walls.”
It also doesn't make much financial sense. Owner Ed Battista said that in order to abide by social distancing mandates, Bluebeard could only open at roughly 22% capacity, despite the 50% capacity allowance.
Even if it had the room to open at greater capacity, Battista said, "restaurants don’t work at 25% percent... not even 75% capacity." And it's not just about the bottom line. It's about saving jobs, too.
"One of our main goals is to bring back all of our employees," Battista said. "and while we may be able to run the most bare-bones operation possible and maybe eke by at a break-even level, at that really low capacity we'd have to lay off most of our staff."
In the meantime, Bluebeard and Amelia's offer curbside carry-out and an online grocery store. The restaurant plans to open outdoor dining with less than 20 seats the first week of June.
"It's been an overwhelming amount of support for what we’re doing," Battista said. "This crisis really highlighted that we might serve food but what we really have is our customers."
Taking it day by day
There are other reasons businesses may delay reopening, Wagner said. Some have liability concerns over what happens if a customer or employee contracts the virus from a business. Others worry their customers aren't ready to come back.
Wagner suggested business owners become students of protocols and best practices within their industry, noting that some companies -- like Kroger -- have made their plans public.
In the meantime, Wagner said businesses should use the time to rethink business models and find ways to innovate. Bluebeard and Wildgeese owners say they've been able to do just that, relieving some of the financial pressure to reopen.
Battista said owners are "continually evaluating the situation," but there's not an exact marker for when they'll feel ready to resume indoor dining. They are, however, waiting in part on more robust contact tracing and testing, and in the long term, a vaccine.
As to when Wildgeese will be ready to get back to normal, Phillips said she's taking it one day at a time.
"I guess to me it's about gut feeling -- where are we today?" she said.
Like so many, she's eager to get back. When asked what she wants customers to know, Phillips' voice quavered.
"I miss 'em," she said. "But I also feel a great responsibility to the preciousness of each person who shops with us and I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to keep them safe. They are essential."
Contact IndyStar reporter Elizabeth DePompei at 317-444-6196 or edepompei@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @edepompei.
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