A MILE OF LOCKDOWNS
Covid-19 Effect On The Nautical Mile
PHOTOS BY EESHA BUTT
In March of 2020, the United States entered into a nationwide lockdown with most businesses having no choice but to shut their doors, including many at the Nautical Mile, but it wasn’t all that bad.
Businesses were covered under the Paycheck Protection Program. However, the issue was employment for business owners to keep their businesses relevant and still standing after the loans expired. This became an issue with people not willing to risk their lives and work when they were getting things like employment benefits sitting at home.
Many business tactics other than government loans allowed businesses to remain afloat.
Ivan Sayles owner of Tropix on the Mile
would make a deal with customers. Everyone who would buy a family meal would get a roll of toilet paper due to the worldwide shortage of toilet paper at the time. This remained beneficial for both the restaurant and its customers.
The main issue restaurant owner Sayles faced was buying food products that were now too expensive for certain staple dishes.
For example, buying a product to make a certain dish like crab for crab cakes skyrocketed in price due to inflation during Covid-19. The owners like Sayles would have no choice but to charge a lot for crab cakes and no one would buy the meal. Sayles had to take that off the menu and made an alternative and much more affordable dish for both Sayles and the consumer.
Al Grover Jr. even mentioned that the boating industry was surprisingly booming.
With people having nothing to do as everything was shut down, many took to the waters.
Many spent their time on a boat fishing as this was a hobby that many could do without contracting the virus or spreading it.
New Doors Open During Lockdown
While stores closed their doors during the Covid-19 lockdown, the Nautical Mile had two small businesses open their doors.
Sparkle on Stage
Sparkle on Stage is a non-profit cultural arts center that actually kept the Nautical Mile alive during the pandemic. Many who stayed at home now had entertainment at the Mile.
Sparkle on Stage created fun outdoor and indoor performances and activities for all ages.
Backyard BBQ
Owner Kenny Ware said,
"That takeout options like Uber Eats helped keep the business afloat. The community was also very welcoming and supportive of a new business knowing how hard it was at this time, especially for small businesses. That's why many did everything they could to help support my business on the Mile."
