Chamber members review, plan COVID-19 responses

Necessity is the mother of invention.

It’s an old phrase, but one that has given birth to a new normal in the La Conner business district as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local merchants have had to adapt, innovate, and as Mayor Ramon Hayes told the Weekly News last week, “step up their game with an internet presence” to off-set the impact of state mandated commercial restrictions intended to curb spread of the coronavirus.

A dozen La Conner businesses are either closed or planning to close or sell. Others have reduced hours and staff to survive the virus crisis, but there are still those that are “busting it,” noted Chamber of Commerce Director Heather Carter, who hosted the group’s annual 90-minute review on the Zoom video-conferencing platform July 28.

“These times,” stressed Carter, “have called for a different way of doing things.”

Local businesses are utilizing electronic media for on-line sales, advertising and marketing directed at out-of-town shoppers who normally flock here for the Tulip Festival, summer vacations and weekend special events.

“We have realized,” Carter said, “that there are other ways for us to promote La Conner.”

Town officials and business leaders have also discussed the feasibility of closing First Street to traffic on selected days, allowing sidewalks and street-end parks to be used for outdoor sales and dining.

“Everybody,” said Chamber President Chris Jennings, owner of Jennings Yarn Shop on First Street, “has been thinking outside the box.”

That has been the case since March, when the impact of COVID-19 shutdown non-essential businesses, closed schools and reduced access to Town offices.

Jennings said her store was closed this spring while “big box” stores deemed as essential businesses remained open and sold yarn and other craft items. She is now doing about one-half to two-thirds the store’s normal business volume while open six days a week, four hours per day – or by appointment – with no employees.

“We’re just not getting the traffic like we’re used to getting,” Jennings said.

Local shopping has picked up with Skagit County having moved into Phase 2 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start re-opening plan. But with a recent spike in new COVID-19 cases, large events are scuttled through the fall.

More innovation likely looms ahead for La Conner businesses and service organizations, Carter said.

“My motto has been that we can’t predict the future, but we can be prepared for it,” she said. “COVID hit us at such a crucial time, around the Tulip Festival. “But we’ve been able to make some lemonade out of lemons.”

For example, she cited the success of local on-line auction fundraisers.

Owners and representatives of La Conner businesses who dialed into the meeting likewise offered glimmers of optimism.

“During the shutdown we were surprisingly busy half the time,” said Kathleen Felker, owner of the Clever Kathy Designs embroidery shop on First Street. “We’re doing all right. We’re not in any danger at the moment.”

“We’ve been much busier than we anticipated,” La Conner Marina Harbormaster Darla Pyke said. “We’re even busy during the middle of the week. Our guests are saying they can’t get into Canada, but they want to get out, so they’re going to the San Juan Islands.

“We’ve been just crazy busy,” she added, “with the great weather and crabbing. We anticipated things being slow, but we’re getting slammed instead.”

Cristal Perkins of Santo Coyote Mexican Kitchen said her restaurant is bouncing back from the low ebb this spring.

“We’ve seen an increase,” she said. “We’re doing well. The majority of our business is take-out. But we’re missing out on corporate-type dinners and we’re getting concerned about what winter is going to look like. Our lease is up next year, but right now we’re doing okay. On weekends, especially, we see a lot of folks.”

The La Conner Regional Library has avoided layoffs and furloughs thus far, said Library Foundation Director Susan Macek. The library, which hopes to break ground on a new facility this fall, adapted with an on-line title catalogue and curbside check-outs.

Audrey Burrell, director of sales and marketing at La Conner Country Inn and Channel Lodge, said post-COVID prospects are trending positive. The town remains on the map for those wanting to travel once the virus threat is contained.

“I had a boat tour group reach out about a month ago,” she explained, “and said they had chosen La Conner as a destination for next year.”

Hayes, himself a First Street business owner, urged Chamber members to remain undaunted and focused on the proverbial half-filled glass.

“The goal of business this year,” he said, “is to just stay in business. If we can come through the winter and keep our doors open, we’ll be okay.”

Two Moons Gallery is open and continues its strong presence on First Street. The mention of its closing at the Chamber meeting was not correct.

Carter wrote in an email Sunday: “I am happy to hear Two Moons is thriving! That is my wish for all La Conner merchants.”