DIDSBURY/CARSTAIRS - Area business owners expressed a mix of emotions in the lead-up to mandatory restrictions that forces some to close down while others try to make it by during the shutdown over the next four weeks.
Carolin Roemer is the owner of Carstairs Hair Company, which opened in August.
She said shutting down so soon is disappointing and disruptive.
“It’s too bad,” said Roemer. “Having a decently-sized shop and expenses to cover and such it is tough, but we have to make the best of it.
“I wish they would have done it in November and given everyone a chance to be with their families now. I feel bad for my girls (her three employees) because they are all single moms and in that way it is harder too.”
She said she plans to re-open the first day she is permitted to do so.
Shannon Konschuh owns and operates Shannon Konschuh Hair Design out of her home in Didsbury.
“It’s super tough,” said Konschuh. “I was almost getting back to half the business I was doing before we had to shut down for three months earlier and now we have to shut down again.
“You almost get to a comfortable place where you can pay your bills again and they shut you down. It’s taking a big toll on a lot of families.”
Christmas season is typically a good time for hair salons, so shutting down now is particularly tough, she said.
“It is a really busy time and now they close us down again. What do you do? I have two children and I have to pay my bills.”
She said she may have to look for another job during the shutdown, and plans to reopen as soon as she is allowed to do so.
Jae Teskey, the owner of JD’s Restaurant and Pub in Didsbury, says she is hopeful that take-out service will be enough to keep the business going over the next month while in-person service is halted.
Teskey will be laying off 14 staff members effective this week, and taking over the cooking duties herself for take-out service.
She says the lockdown earlier in the pandemic was hard on all local businesses, including her own, and she hopes it wouldn’t be worse this time around.
“Business has been way down and now we have to figure out what happens next,” she said. “We are going to see if the take-out will be enough to pay the bills.”
Asked if she will be reopening in January, she said, “I sure hope so. I am going to see how the take-out goes until Christmas and then see what happens.”
Teskey says she would have preferred if the province had shut things down two weeks earlier so the restaurant and pub would be re-opened during at least part of the holiday season.
Located a 2015 - 19th Ave, JD’s has been in business for 20 years.
Danny Caria is the owner of Villa Maria Ristorante Italiano in Carstairs. He says he expects the shutdown to be tough on businesses across the community, with restaurants being particularly hard hit.
“It’s going to be tough on everybody,” said Caria. “I think this is going to be even worse (than the previous lockdown). It’s right in the middle of the Christmas season which for the restaurants and pubs is our biggest month and holds us up for January and February. It’s the worst time of the year.”
Still being able to offer take-out will be helpful, he said.
“We are hoping the community will help us out,” he said. “We are trying to do the best we can. It will help keep us going and cover some of the expenses.”
He said he hopes the lockdown will be helpful in helping stem the pandemic.
“If we have to get on track for everyone’s health, then we have to do what we have to do,” he said.
Villa Maria Ristorante Italiano is located at 108 - 10th Avenue north in Carstairs.
