Graphic by Lucia Baring-Gould
Tae Hong
Opinions Reporter
Honestly, it seems like so long ago that there was a time when we were in the depths of quarantine—most of us had a good few months where we had to suffer through home-cooked meals (sorry, Mom and Dad). And while we were doing that, the restaurants and businesses we were usually supporting had no customers. Imagine not having a source of income but still having to pay rent, bills, etc.
Even today, the number of customers is not what it used to be—will it ever be? COVID-19 has changed everyone’s lives. Even though restrictions have definitely lightened up, the number of people going out is significantly fewer than in our pre-COVID world.
Being from a family of small business owners, I’ve witnessed the struggle firsthand. My dad and stepmom work in the food industry. They own a small business in Seattle that they started a couple of years ago, and in the past two years, COVID has hit them hard. Indoor seating kept getting banned and reopened and banned again. Their business also relies on indoor seating, and take-out boxes simply are not the same. The prospect was not good for a while.
My parents’ situation reflects those of many small businesses all over the country.
“Over the midst of the pandemic, my family has found our favorite bakery called Athens in Brookline, and when we went there, they were really happy that we came and bought a cake or something. And the employee was like, ‘the owner will be really happy that you came and purchased some goods,’” says Maya Mohanti, a junior at South, further illustrating the tough times a local bakery has experienced.
Early in the pandemic, there were grants and low-interest loan programs for which small business owners could apply. But is that sustainable? And is the damage already done? Some shops and restaurants had to change their whole business model. If your income relies on people hanging out inside, well, your future looks bleak.
While small businesses have been struggling, corporations like Amazon have been thriving more than ever. Isn’t it more convenient, safe, and fast to order clothes and even food online?
“I noticed a lot of small businesses in Newton Centre are closing down,” says Isabel Dantas, another junior at South. “Big franchises like Starbucks are still thriving,” adds Mohanti.
We as individuals can help combat this issue by shopping from local retailers, restaurants, and shops instead of large corporations whose numbers have been going up during the pandemic.
Although most of us here at Newton South are vaccinated, there is still a lot of uncertainty regarding what could happen in the future, which is a big part of this situation. Companies that are thriving are ones that everyone needs, even during a pandemic. But what about those who have already set their roots? Will small businesses ever recover?
