Pekin Daily Times
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the closure of businesses throughout the United States. But South Side and Tackle owner Jeff Lance of Pekin is in the unusual position of opening a new business because of, rather than in spite of, the pandemic.
“Both (my father, Mike, and I) lost our jobs due to COVID,” said Lance. “I lost my job at F. L. Schmidt Foundry, and he got away from Keystone.”
Lance and his son, Gabe, are avid hunters and fishermen, and remember purchasing supplies for fishing expeditions at Spring Lake from a now-defunct bait shop on south Second Street in Pekin. When he learned the premises were available, Lance stepped in to start a family business with Mike and Gabe. South Side Bait and Tackle opened in August, but it became apparent to the Lances that they could not sustain the business simply as a bait shop.