SPRINGVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Small businesses in Erie County’s Orange zone are taking a hit.
In Orchard Park, Mangia Restaurant is donating 10% of all gift card sales back to staff, who has been out of work for nearly three weeks
But just a short drive down the 219 in Springville, it’s business as usual. People can be seen enjoying coffee and food inside restaurants on Main Street in the small village.
“I think our town in general is grateful we are open,” said Cassandra Gentner who works at 49 Coffee House & Eatery.
Local businesses are doing what they can to survive. Springville is in a yellow zone, meaning there are restrictions but you can still get your hair done, nails done and dine in.
“Some people don’t even realize they’re allowed to stay and sit, when they do, they ask where they can get their nails done, their hair,” Gentner said.
Gentner says some days, the business is overwhelmed with people coming in from the orange zone.
“It defeats the purpose of all the restrictions,” she said. “It does kind of waste our hard work when we follow all the rules so we can be open,” she said.
In fact, yellow zones in Erie and Niagara County are seeing a higher 7 day rolling average of positive cases than the orange zone.
“People have been pretty open with ‘yeah I just took a 20 minute drive to come dine in,” she said.
“I feel bad for the salon owners and the barbers. Their customers are coming to us and it’s not fair,” said Angela Shaver, owner of Root 39 Salon & Spa in Springville. “If you’re going to do this, shut everything down for 2 weeks.”
Shaver says to pick and choose what businesses are open where, and only creates more of an issue.
“People are people, they’re going to do what’s best for them,” she said. “How can the virus not be two miles down the road?”
