Like thousands of businesses on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, Hardwick's Country Store has been severely impacted by COVID-19 travel restrictions. The land border between Canada and the U.S. has been closed to non-essential travel since March 21, 2020, and the closure order has been extended every 30 days since then.
Kilby said at Hardwick's — where the vast majority of customers pre-pandemic were Canadians grabbing gas, milk or beer — business is down 90 per cent from 2019. He has had to lay off 10 employees
"For my business I rely on the local Canadian people," Kilby said. "The town of Calais is anxiously awaiting their return."