Local Businesses Learn To ‘Roll With The Punches’ | News, Sports, Jobs

Pictured is Andrea Latona, proprietor of Full Moon Rising Bakery in downtown Jamestown, as she frosts a cake.
P-J photographs by Katrina Fuller

Frank Besse, Jamestown Renaissance Corp. City Core director, stated he has seen a variety of optimism about having the ability to transfer ahead. Besse stated companies are attempting to determine the right way to have a functioning native financial system whereas the pandemic persists and “determine the perfect methods to deal with that actuality because it modifications.”

“The wrestle is type of projecting into the way forward for what is going to occur,” he stated. “It looks as if the next precedence is the uncertainty of the long run, however then additionally the provision chain points, pricing and issues like which can be one thing extra that’s arising.”

Besse stated whereas the pandemic has been devastating, companies have rallied and located inventive methods to outlive and even thrive.

“You’ve seen among the infrastructure modifications — like Plexiglas in additional locations just like the Pub or Labyrinth, for instance,” he stated. “You then see companies like Paces making an ideal outside eating spot — (they’re) taking concepts that had been good earlier than COVID and now they completely make a variety of sense.

“I feel the identical factor goes with some on-line ordering. You’ve seen both companies get on board with that or simply enhance the issues they’ve already had. If COVID had been to go away tomorrow, you’d in all probability see all these companies maintain that on-line ordering and maintain that outside seating, so there’s some silver lining right here. The type of resiliency that some companies have been capable of construct into their mannequin is one thing we should always rejoice.”

Pictured are Sam Lisciandro, normal supervisor, and Jessica Gray, waitress, behind the enduring bar at The Pub in Jamestown.

Besse stated some companies have closed all through COVID, however many have come by means of it even stronger than earlier than.

“Should you return to April of 2020 and also you truthfully (take into consideration) what you had been considering was occurring and what may occur then, at the very least for me personally, I believed issues had been going to be quite a bit worse from an financial improvement standpoint,” he stated. “All these companies selected totally different paths to get to the opposite facet, and plenty of of them are getting there. There are a variety of methods to get right here and you’ll see all of them in type of the downtown financial system.”

Besse stated it’s heartening to see how invested so many native companies are in the neighborhood that they’d say “we’re gonna get by means of this — we’re staying.” He supplied a phrase of encouragement to these companies within the downtown Jamestown space.

“There is a chance for small companies to adapt and alter and make selections,” he stated. “There are nice sources which can be out there — I want there have been extra — however there are some sources, so it’s essential that all of us talk and work collectively. I see that occuring, and I’m very optimistic about that. I feel that folk are devoted to the neighborhood and devoted to small enterprise can discover success although the uncertainty may proceed. However I’d additionally prefer to congratulate those that have been capable of navigate this.”

Andrea Latona is a kind of downtown enterprise house owners who’ve grown and flourished all through the pandemic. Her enterprise, Full Moon Rising Bakery, has expanded its on-line enterprise and has picked up prospects corresponding to Apple and Pinterest all through the ordeal.

“Nothing is identical because it was earlier than the pandemic for positive, however we simply type of roll with the punches,” she stated. “I’m actually, as we converse proper now, packaging up some cookie kits to mail out as a result of I in all probability do perhaps 50% of my enterprise on-line now, transport throughout the nation.”

Latona stated the store initially closed up firstly of the pandemic for buyer and worker security, however she was then capable of open the store for a bit by herself. She started mailing objects out at that time, which turned very fashionable. At one level in the course of the Christmas season, she closed her store as a result of overabundance of enterprise.

“I’ve customized cookies and do-it-yourself cookie kits,” she stated. “Final Christmas I used to be so busy with company orders like Apple and Pinterest and a pair different actually big firms ordered like tons of of kits and I shipped them out, and I did some digital lessons with them. That’s why I needed to shut — I used to be so busy transport cookies to Apple and Pinterest. Pinterest ordered my cookie adorning children, embellished them and despatched me a pin of it. I misplaced my thoughts.”

Some issues have modified on the store, together with the lack of indoor seating. Nevertheless, Latona stated prospects don’t thoughts as they typically take their goodies dwelling. The surplus area has made it doable for her to show extra objects on the market, and “have extra vegetation out,” she added.

Full Moon Rising Bakery is situated at 122 E. third Road in Jamestown.

One other downtown favourite is The Pub. Sam Lisciandro, the final supervisor, stated every part has been going nicely for the reason that restrictions had been lifted earlier this summer time. Lisciandro stated The Pub by no means misplaced an worker and everybody was capable of return to work after they re-opened.

“(Regulars) had been ready to come back in,” he stated. “We’re nonetheless making an attempt to separate (individuals) somewhat bit — however not as a lot as we had been. As you possibly can see, there aren’t as many tables on this space, so there’s nonetheless extra room to wander round. However, I feel extra persons are popping out. Even within the final week or two, the numbers have dropped — I really feel like extra persons are popping out.”

Lisciandro stated one main lesson he discovered from the pandemic is that it’s OK to be out of one thing.

“Due to the shortages, it’s simply the way in which it’s now,” he stated. “Now there are just a few stuff you’re not going to have the ability to get or one thing issues you possibly can’t get as a result of the costs went up. Meat costs are loopy — we don’t serve hen wings, however I do know a variety of different locations are having points with hen wings.”

Lisciandro stated The Pub shortened the menu somewhat once they reopened, however the prospects don’t appear to thoughts. He stated they all the time discover one thing else scrumptious to order as an alternative.

The Pub is situated at 209 N. Principal St. in Jamestown.