“We’d like to see it go on another 70 years.
“You definitely don’t want to be the end of the generations,” Sereda said. She and fellow owners Margarita Vega and Javier Partida-all with at least 20 years’ tenure at the restaurant-felt heartbroken at the prospect. Likewise, Sereda said La Hacienda verged on closure several times during the height of restrictions. Staff is down from five to two and the office has moved to a “small but serviceable” shared space adjacent to Kirk’s Jewelry. Bassett said the organization “came close to closing our doors” and has downsized dramatically. The DCBA itself is an example of pandemic resilience. We’re intending to follow the guidelines for whatever in place … and encourage people to be courteous and appropriate.” Financial life jackets We are, too-that’s why we didn’t hold any events last year at all. “There are still folks that are concerned about safety. I’m hearing enthusiasm I don’t know that I’ve heard anything negative. “I think people are really needing connection, and they’re very excited about that date and getting prepared for it. “People are very much looking forward to it and very much embracing things opening up,” she said by phone. Katy Thoma, president and CEO of the Chico Chamber of Commerce, stresses diligence with COVID-19 protocols in order to keep the local economy moving in a positive direction. After shuttering events that bring the public downtown, the DCBA is bringing back-later in spring than usual-Thursday Night Market on May 6 and Friday Night Concerts on May 28. Melanie Bassett, executive director of the Downtown Chico Business Association, shares that safeguarded optimism. But they still need to know they need to continue to wear a mask and socially distance where possible.” “We’ve got a lot of people vaccinated now-we’re moving in a really positive direction-so I think people are feeling bolder and more secure, which is great. “If you notice, people aren’t wearing their masks as readily as they were, even walking downtown when there’s lots of people around, when they would have,” Thoma continued.
Light at the end of the tunnel full#
Still, since entering the orange tier on March 31, the county has experienced a bump in cases, with infection numbers breaking 100 per week twice after going a full month below that threshold. Much of California, including Butte County, is in the state’s orange tier-indicating a case rate of 1 to 3.9 per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 4.9 percent or less-and a third of county residents have been vaccinated at least partially, a quarter fully. Katy Thoma, president and CEO of the Chico Chamber of Commerce, told the CN&R that “there’s a sense of relief” among local businesses about the reopening-“so long as we can keep our numbers down.”Īs of Thursday afternoon (April 22), Butte County Public Health had reported 11,478 cases, including 181 deaths, since March 2020 and 10 patients currently hospitalized.
Newsom announced that California will ditch the Blueprint for a Safer Economy-and its system of tiers-and reopen fully June 15 provided the vaccine supply remains sufficient to inoculate anyone at least 16 years old and hospitalizations remain “stable and low.” Face coverings will remain mandatory. “Unfortunately, we’ve been shut down for a year, so it’s a slow build-up.” Optimism guarded “I think the expectation of the customer is it’s like a light switch you turn on and everything is back to normal,” Sereda said. Nonetheless, wider reopening will require adjustments. Sereda echoed other Chico business-owners and leaders in calling that “the light at the end of the tunnel.” Despite their experience previous rollbacks of restrictions during the pandemic, which the state reversed when cases re-surged, they’re optimistic this time due to progress in vaccinating residents-locally and statewide-against COVID-19. Gavin Newsom has targeted for fully reopening California’s economy. She’s hoping that happens by June 15, the date Gov.
“We’d love to get back to seven days a week and normal hours,” Sereda said, “but we have to sleep some time.” The state has recently relaxed rules to permit half-capacity indoor dining as well as patio service, but as many businesses are now clamoring to hire, the restaurant’s owners have only been able to staff 21 workers, less than half of the pre-COVID total of 56 employees.Īs a result, La Hacienda isn’t open Sundays and Mondays, has put bar seating on hold and is running at about 25 percent of its overall capacity. At La Hacienda, that cut business 75 percent and led its three employee-owners to reduce staffing. The initial wave of COVID-19 restrictions forced restaurants to stop serving diners indoors and modify takeout to curbside pickup and delivery.