Reopening the state amid scorching summer months; how valley businesses are handling it
It s no question that restaurant business owners are relieved they can welcome customers back after the state did away with much of its pandemic-era restrictions on June 15. But just as things got better, many already were anticipating the slow summer months it s a given owning a business in the desert and not having tourists flocking to the area because of triple-digit temperatures.
Palm Springs reached record temperatures, and the entire Coachella Valley remained under an excessive heat warning through Monday night. It s down from of course April and May when everyone was still in town and we were very busy, but we like it enough that we ve had a little bit of traffic. At least we re able to sit people inside, owner of French Rotisserie Cafe owner, Fabienne Struell said.
Palm Desert businesses hopeful in the city’s emergency loan program
The city council authorized a repurposing of city funds to create the Unite Palm Desert Emergency Business Relief loan program. The move makes an additional $500,000 available to its local businesses affected by recent COVID-related closures. We just hustle every day. said Greg Rangel. Every day is a struggle, we look forward to tomorrow and we work for it today.
The Gastro Grind Burgers joint in Palm Desert is one of hundreds of valley restaurants trying to hang on. Initially when we had to do the shutdown, we had 12 full-time employees, said Rangel. Now we re down to three full-time employees and then sometimes, obviously we as owners go in and help where we can.