‘When does it end?’ Charlotte businesses irate over NC extending reopening restrictions
To one Charlotte business owner struggling to stay afloat financially, Gov. Roy Cooper’s decision Wednesday to extend Phase Two of coronavirus restrictions felt like another sharp jolt of pain.
“It just rips the Band-Aid off each time,” Joe Kuhlmann, founder and co-owner of The Evening Muse, said of government COVID-19 orders over the months that have kept his and other music venues closed. “It’s a struggle. No doubt about it.”
On Wednesday, Cooper said Phase Two of the coronavirus restrictions will remain for another five weeks, keeping them in place through the Labor Day weekend and up to Sept. 11. It had been set to expire Friday.
This is the third time Cooper has decided to keep restrictions that limit the size of gatherings indoors and outdoors in retail stores, restaurants and other businesses. The restrictions also keep bars, gyms, entertainment venues and some other establishments closed in the pandemic.
This week, the state has counted more than 2,000 COVID-19 deaths in North Carolina since the pandemic began to unfold in early March.
The state has been in Phase Two of COVID-19 restrictions on business and leisure activity since May 22. Restaurant dining rooms are allowed to have 50% occupancy, as are personal care businesses such as barbershops, salons and tattoo parlors.
‘When does it end?’
To another local business owner, the latest order evoked more senselessness and bewilderment.
“It’s tough,” Chris Narveson of Orangetheory Fitness said in an email to the Observer. “When does it end?
“There has been no guidance or compassion given to businesses that are forced to be closed under his authoritarian executive order,” Narveson said. “Gyms are open in almost every state besides NC, so there isn’t a valid explanation of why we cannot open. Even states that have pulled back on reopening acknowledge that gyms aren’t the cause of the spread of the virus.”
When gyms like his take precautions and meet or exceed safety standards, he said, “if anything, they are the best place to help defeat the virus by working on your mental and physical health.”
The biggest question, Narveson said, is when Cooper finally lifts the order, “will there be any members to come back to?”
Under the state’s original plans for Phase Three, businesses could increase their capacities, and more people would be allowed to gather. Gatherings are currently limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
Nearing a ‘breaking point’
The governor’s decision came as little surprise to owners of Charlotte businesses that were forced to close months ago.
“I completely expected it to be what he’d say,” Zach Pullman of Abari Game Bar in NoDa told the Observer, especially given recent orders by the state and city of Charlotte limiting the hours of alcohol sales at night.
Pullman said he reads the COVID-19 infection numbers each day and knows the pandemic continues to spread. He realizes a lot of other small businesses “are in the same boat” as his, wondering how much longer they can survive.
“This is kind of the breaking point,” Pullman said, referring to Wednesday’s order. He said he has no choice but to continue to seek grants and other funding “to keep the lights on.”
Ric Peterson, who handles bookings for Skylark Social Club in Plaza Midwood, likewise worries how long businesses such as his can survive.
“All of us are running out of options,” Peterson said. He was referring to his and other local music venues that belong to the Charlotte Independent Venue Alliance.
Skylark, a live music venue with about 12 employees, has exhausted its savings and its federal Paycheck Protection Program loan.
And music venue operators said the alliance has had no success obtaining funding from Charlotte through the federal Cares Act. Most have relied on financial appeals on GoFundMe and live stream events.
‘Not our fault’
Bernie Brown of Visulite Theatre on Elizabeth Avenue said he understands why venues and bars need to be closed due to the pandemic.
“My problem with the governor is that he did not publicly acknowledge the fact that certain businesses are completely closed and it’s not our fault,” Brown said in an email after Cooper’s news conference.
“He was asked that question and didn’t answer,” Brown said. “He mentioned restaurants again at reduced capacity. Restaurants can still conduct business! The brewers were allowed to open because they have a great political lobby.”
Cooper, he said, should announce a plan for businesses that have not been allowed to open since March — “to address and help alleviate our specific pain!”
‘Complete absurdity’
Paul Kreins, owner of Victory Lanes Events and Entertainment Center in Mooresville, said he wasn’t surprised by the governor’s announcement, although he did not expect the five-week time frame.
“It’s gotten to the point of complete absurdity,” Kreins said. “There’s not even an attempt to look at it business by business or industry by industry and say, ‘look, you guys can obviously open just as safely as a retail store or a restaurant.’ ”
Kreins said large bowling and entertainment centers such as his have the space and means to enforce safety and social distancing measures. He said Victory Lanes has been operating since late June, despite state restrictions.
But his bowling center may have to close again by next week, he said, because of increasing pressure from the town of Mooresville.
Kreins said the town is threatening to issue citations against him beginning on Friday, and he must decide if he can afford the daily fines.
In the meantime, he and investors have been raising money to keep Victory Lanes afloat in case it is forced to shut down for several weeks. Kreins estimates that even while shut down, Victory Lane’s expenses would run at roughly $80,000 a month.
“Businesses can’t survive with no revenue, no income for six months because we all have expenses,” Kreins said. “In my case, we have a mortgage, we have equipment leases, we’ve got utilities that continue to run.”
Staff Writer Catherine Muccigrosso and the (Raleigh) News & Observer contributed
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 4:17 PM.