By Carla Rubio

From Our May/June Issue

While the majority of citizens have been quarantined inside of their homes distancing themselves from the world, others across the globe have stayed open — working to keep their “essential” businesses open. These include grocery stores, pharmacies, to-go restaurants, food banks, and transportation. 

And they are growing busier by the day. 

Surprisingly, no matter the size—whether they are a large company or a local shop—these stores, delivery services and companies are seeing a greater surge of customers than ever before.

“Independent pharmacies have been recognized as one of the many front line warriors, providing much-needed services during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Dr. Lerycka Fonte, owner and pharmacist of Rubio Pharmacy. 

“Although we have been working with closed doors, limiting front end sales, our sales have increased, specifically vitamins, minerals, and supplements as well as the urge to refill and stock up on prescriptions,” she continued.

Not only are pharmacies and other healthcare facilities benefitting, but so are home-improvement stores, which have also seen a drastic rise in customers. The Costco Wholesale Corporation has seen sales rise by more than $1.5 billion since the pandemic spread.

From Home Depot to Target, people turn to many well-known retail stores to help fulfill their newfound home tasks. 

“People are home. They haven’t gone to work or to school. This provides time for those home improvement projects you’ve put off,” said John Moffi, Social Studies Department Head, considering why so many people are shopping. “Or maybe you see Chrissy Tiegen cooking on Instagram and get inspired to try her recipe.”

Whether this is to buy groceries or develop a project, anything that people are shopping more than ever. But that does not necessarily mean that shoppers are heading to a physical store.

Delivery and pickup businesses have also been of great use during this pandemic. 

Whether one wants to shop online, buy something new on Amazon, or order a bite to eat, delivery/pickup services are the go-to. Many businesses have also turned to these services to avoid in-person contact with customers and provide an overall safer system to acquiring items.

“A healthy percentage of independent [businesses] were already on board with delivery, but right now they’re grappling with survival,” said Melissa Wilson, principal of Technomic, a foodservice industry. “Chains are embracing the fact that this is an opportunity to provide the product to the consumer and keep business flowing.”

The situation differs for businesses that have been forced to close or have not seen as great a surge of customers due to the inability to adapt as quickly, causing an increase in unemployment rates and dragging down the economy.

Several retailers, which were already experiencing a slump in sales, have announced permanent store closures. Others, like Neiman Marcus and JC Penny have filed for bankruptcy. This could potentially leave thousands of people without jobs.

“The most recent reading of unemployed people jumped to approximately 33.5 million people,” said Daniel Borges, a Certified Public Accountant, regarding the impact the pandemic has on the nation’s economy. “That is leading to a dramatic slow down in demand due to income uncertainty, which further drags down the economy.”

The county has begun to reopen, but the economy may be slow to recover

“There are some market analysts that predict an uptick in demand (pent up from being stuck at home for two months) once businesses begin to reopen,” added Borges. “The train of thought here leads some to believe that a good portion of the 33.5 million people will go back to work. Personally, I am in the more pessimistic camp.”

The Town of Miami Lakes is hoping that a reopening of restaurants and local businesses will keep the town’s economy runnin.

Town Mayor Manny Cid took to a live meeting with other town officials such as Deputy Town Attorney, Lorenzo Cobiella, and Town Manager, Ed Pidermann, to address questions about their reopening.

With a 180 page guideline available to all, it is stated that although non-essentials are reopening, businesses will have to follow a strict set of rules, such as the required distance between chairs and the frequent cleaning of bathrooms and door handles, to remain open.

This may help control the spread of COVID-19 and allow people to return to work.

Since the spread of the virus, jobless claims jumped to about 3.28 million in the last week of March, according to the United States Department of Labor. However, with the reopening of local businesses, the number of people filing for unemployment may slowly decrease and, in time, return to its original state.

Not only will this aid the unemployed, but it will bring a feeling of normalcy to communities everywhere.

According to the Miami Herald, about 70% of the county’s population is expected to take a step toward some semblance of normalcy upon the reopening of businesses.

“As long as we keep the numbers down then phase 2 will come into effect, we can open up the gymnasiums, we can open up the rest of Miami Lakes and go back to more of the normal, but this is only going to happen if everybody cooperates, not only the business owners but the consumers themselves,” said Lorenzo Cobiella, Deputy Town Attorney for Miami Lakes.