Beau Lindborg, co-owner of Backcountry Gourmet, estimated Sunday that business at 11th Street Station was down 10% from last Sunday, which already was a slow day.
Yaling Yen, owner of May Palace, estimated shifting to a to-go only operation had cut her business by about 50%.
At Durango Joes Coffee in Town Plaza, barista J Sanford called Sunday’s business “pretty slow.”
One thing they all had in common: They considered themselves lucky in the wake of business-shaking restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“I’m one of the lucky ones because Chinese food is normal for takeout,” Yen said. “It’s hard to have lobster to-go. Chinese food is convenient and affordable.”
Yen says on trips to City Market she’s been asked if she’s been discriminated against as the COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China. The answer is “no.”
“I haven’t experienced any discrimination in Durango. I picked Durango 34 years ago, and I’m glad I did. I picked Durango and Durango has loved me back. I’m so thankful I live in Durango.”
Still, Yen is realistic at what she’s facing. She doesn’t think business will pick up anytime soon as people hunker down looking to cut corners after losing jobs or facing cut hours.
“It may be tough, but we’ll make it. If everyone helps each other, we’ll be OK. Tough times bring out the best in people,” she said.
Lindborg said the most grueling episode in the whole COVID-19 situation was the forced layoffs of his 10 employees.
“The thing about a food truck is you can scale back. We can open up with just me, one employee. We don’t need lights. We don’t need the heat on. I’m thankful we were set up for to-go. We’re going to make it. But I’m worried about my employees. Are they going to make it? I don’t know,” Lindborg said.
While Backcountry Gourmet was only down 10% at the 11th Street Station, Lindborg said he’s been forced to close his two other food trucks, one at The Nugget bar near Purgatory because of the dearth of skiers after the resort’s forced shutdown and another truck at the Union Social House, which operates as a dine-in operation.
“I’m only down 10% here, but the business as a whole is way down,” he said.
Next week, Lindborg is planning to give three shifts to workers. But he said, “It’s still not nearly enough to help them. I wish I could do more.”
At Durango Joes Coffee, Sanford said business is way down, but he still sees his regulars.
“We appreciate our regulars. They’re really helping. Their still coming in pretty frequently.
Diane and Lee Wagenhals had come in for their Sunday coffee after making shopping rounds.
“People are hoarding everything, and I just don’t understand that,” Diane said.
Her husband noted they had recently failed in their search for toilet paper.
“We couldn’t find it anywhere, not even the Bayfield stores.”
Despite the tough times fate may have thrown at downtown retailers, a feeling of thanks was not uncommon up and down Main Avenue.
At Cream Bean Berry, an artisan ice cream shop, Caitlin Laffey said people understood the tough times they were facing.
We’ve had people who’ve stopped in and said they are shopping at all the small business with the intention to support them. They were picking a few every day to shop in.
Despite falling sales, Nancy Cochran, a sales associate at Sorrel Sky Gallery, said the COVID-19 restrictions have come near a shoulder season, and she noted the gallery relies a lot on online and phone sales besides foot traffic.
“People use art to feel better, and we’re thankful for that. It brings them comfort, beauty and joy.”
parmijo@durangoherald.com
