Businesses wait to reopen

    Murphy – Although business is not normal in downtown, the Murphy Business Association is brainstorming ways to bring people back downtown once it’s safe.
    Wayne Peacock, president of the association, said most business owners he has talked with are anxious to open their doors again to customers. Some restrictions are expected to be lifted at 5 p.m. Friday, when the executive order that extended business restrictions expires. Business owners are just waiting to learn the guidelines from the state so they can figure out how to navigate those changes.
    “For most of us, this is our livelihood,” Peacock said. “You need the business, but also you want to be aware of safety.”
    In the meantime, the association is facilitating conversations with key people to help businesses, including providing information on applying for loans and unemployment.
    Peacock, who is also a Realtor, said he has not heard of any business needing to close permanently because of the coronavirus. While some businesses are on the market, those businesses were planning to sell before the pandemic started.
    One of those businesses was Curiosity Shop Bookstore, which was in the process of selling as early as January. While the business has been closed for the virus, owners Kerry Archer and Anne Silver have been taking orders through email and phone to continue serving customers.
    Archer said they are ready to fully reopen when finally allowed.
    “Before we closed, we were already wiping down the counters and card reader,” he said, adding they typically have only two to four customers at a time. “We’re concerned, yes. But we believe we will be able to strike a safe balance between safety and the economic need to reopen.”
    While Peacock hasn’t been able to get around to everyone, only one business owner he has talked with received their Small Business Association loan for relief. He hopes other businesses will be getting their requested loans soon.
    Paul Worley, director of economic and workforce development, said more than 150 businesses in Cherokee County have applied for the loans. Because the applications are in different stages of being processed, he did not have a number of recipients.
    Some downtown businesses have found ways to continue serving customers in new ways. Peacock said the most successful businesses today are those that have been able to move to an online platform or increase their online services.
    “People have really adapted the best they can,” he said.
    Peacock praised the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for updating their website to help keep the public aware of what businesses were still open and how they could be reached. He also praised the Cherokee County Health Department for their assistance and making sure business owners were aware of new guidelines.
    “Our health department has been doing an amazing job of keeping our restaurants up to date,” he said.
    Health Director David Badger said there will be a lot of changes for restaurant owners to work with in order to fully reopen. He added that the health department tries to help businesses the best they can, but not all questions – like legal ones – can be answered by his staff.
    “We’re always here as a resource,” Badger said.