The COVID pandemic has forced local business owners to get creative.
As restrictions tightened last year, businesses instituted practices like curbside pickup, online sales and private shopping hours, all in an effort to remain in business.
“A lot of learning had to be done (to help) brick-and-mortar businesses keep afloat,” said Andrea Lechner, owner of Barn Owl Studio. “We are making it work by being creative with the business plan.”
In Lechner’s case, that meant overhauling the plan. Her downtown Monroe do-it-yourself art studio relies almost solely on in-person guests.
“Pre-pandemic, we packed the house weekly with walk-in Friday night DIY events, open public workshops and private parties," she explained. "We seat 35 people in the studio, and most parties were filled every seat, especially the First Friday events in downtown Monroe, where sometimes 100 people would walk through our door within a two-hour period."