Second lockdown ‘not what we want to see’: Anxiety runs high for Alliston business owners as second wave begins

COVID-19 cases are rapidly re-surging across the province, causing anxiety among many business owners who struggled to make it through the first wave of the pandemic.

So far, the hot spots have been limited to Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa, but it’s possible Simcoe County could join that list if the virus continues to spread.

In an effort to reduce the cases, these areas were rolled back to a modified version of the Stage 2 restrictions, resulting in the closure of indoor dining at restaurants, gyms and movie theatres.

Gina Facca, chief operating officer of Imagine Cinemas, which operates 10 locations across the province, including one in Alliston, said moviegoers returned this summer to see films like Tenet and Unhinged.

With many new movies having been delayed to next year, the theatre started showing older films, but they didn’t bring in enough people in to cover costs.

The theatre also started offering bubble screenings for small groups or families, but business has still been slow.

“We have a wonderful little cinema in Alliston and we really hope that folks will come out to support us now, when we really need it,” she said.

With Hollywood moving many of the blockbusters to 2021, and the prospect of another lockdown becoming a possibility, she expects it will be very difficult for all cinemas to make it to next year.

Christine Molenaar, owner of the Circle Theatre, called the province’s decision to close theatres in the hot spots “frustrating and disappointing,” noting there have been no known transmissions of the virus in theatres.

She said the theatre will continue to operate until ordered otherwise. Currently, the large auditorium has a capacity limit of 50 people, leaving lots of room to physically distance.

“The Circle Theatre is a beloved landmark to our community and we believe with creative business ideas and community support, we will get through whatever the next months to years have in store for us, but there are definitely challenging times ahead,” she said.

Lori Matthews, manager of Home Decor and More, said the owners decided to close the furniture showroom to the public at the start of the pandemic and focus on online sales.

She said the company was fortunate to have a big online presence before the pandemic started.

“We are just riding it out, and it’s working,” she said.

Dan Barker, operations manager for Anytime Fitness in Alliston, said the gym has been busy since reopening this summer and the business is making a slow, but steady recovery.

“While a second lockdown of all gyms across the province is not what we want to see, we will respect the direction and be ready to welcome back our members again when given the clearance,” he said.

Sandra Lambie, owner of Williams and The Coop Public House and Foodiary, said diners were slow to return to the restaurants since indoor dining was permitted, and sales have dipped again now that the case counts are rising again.

She will have a heated and covered patio at Williams this fall and winter, but there won’t be any outdoor dining at The Coop.

She has been encouraged by the more targeted approach the province is taking, and how Premier Doug Ford has acknowledged the impact these decisions have on business owners and people’s mental health.

“The uncertainty for me is what causes the most anxiety, and having somebody else dictate how you should be running your business,” she said.

Story behind the story: With the province having moved some areas back into Stage 2, Simcoe.com wanted to check in with local businesses to see how they would handle another lockdown in the event Simcoe County becomes a COVID-19 hot spot.