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The variety of restaurants and coffee shops had a variety of sales volume in the week since Gov. Jay Inslee ordered they cease serving sit-down customers. They are an essential business under Inslee’s Monday declaration telling everyone to stay home, except for a short list of approved activities, including picking up take-out meals, getting groceries and medicines, seeing doctors and getting exercise. Social distancing – keeping six feet distance – is always necessary.
Car and foot traffic 1 p.m. Sunday was moderate on South First Street. People were having lunches at picnic tables at the boardwalk pocket parks as were two couple at Gilkey Square, where the trash receptacle on First and Morris was filled to overflowing.
Pam Fields of La Conner Coffee reported “My sales on Friday, Saturday and Sunday each surpassed any day I’ve had since I opened the shop, with the exception of sales on the day of the boat parade. I guess no matter what people still want their coffee and ice cream!” Sunday she had “eight or nine people almost shoulder to shoulder.” Greg Westover from the Ginger Grater next door pointed out customers were standing too close together. Fields said she shooed-out folks wanting to sit down. Sunday she was prepared to meter people coming in. Fields is serving Scone Lady scones and sells ice cream, quick purchase eating onthe-go foods. Tourists were the bulk of her customers.
Belen Arias at Santo Coyote Mexican Kitchen said that dinner takeout orders were sufficient to keep them going for a while. She said that they are not offering lunch, that orders were too few. Last call for dinner is 6 p.m.
Nell Thorn’s Ted Furst called the support of the community “pretty remarkable,” noting the high level of response in this rural community. Tips are pooled for the hourly staff laid off. Filling out unemployment forms for his staff, he said he felt a lot of pain. About customer support and life overall he said, “We’re all in this together.” He estimated sales were one-sixth of normal.
Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage has reversed course and is closing. Owner Jennifer Ferry appreciated promotional support from the La Conner Chamber of Commerce, Shelter Bay and others. Locals responded well. Then last weekend, Ferry explained in an email: “Many, many people traveled north from Seattle and the surrounding areas to ‘get away’ from the shutdown. It felt too normal, and we felt that our business being open at this point was riskier than closing. So, we decided to close on Sunday night and hunker down with the rest of town until we all get the green light to reopen.” Her plans had been to stay open through March.
Ferry wrote: “Our hearts are full by the outpouring of support from our friends and neighbors in La Conner. We were saddened to close, but feel it was the right thing to do right now. We look forward to the day that we get to fully reopen and to see everyone again.”
Seeds owner Kjendal Hicks notes business is not at tulip season levels. Her Tuesday email: “But we are feeling the love and support from the community. We are collecting money for Alyssa, our bar manager, as she is about to have a baby and both her and her husband are now out of work due to the virus. The ‘Baby Fund’ is growing every day and we couldn’t be more grateful to all of our guests for being so generous.”
Calico Cupboard is not open. Friday Brenda Smith was on the boardwalk behind her First Street café, crouching between boxes of green onions and romaine lettuce, bagging produce for her staff. Her March 16 Facebook post states: “We will be temporarily closing until state allows reopening.”
La Connery Brewery started last week being open for takeout with a 25% discount for merchants. By Thursday, March 19 they had a sign on the door and a Facebook posting that said in part: “These are confusing times and we want to do what is best for our community and the wellbeing of our staff. We will be taking it one day at a time just like everyone else and keep you updated of any new developments.”
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