Cloverleaf Coffee & Bakery
Once a bustling bakery full of pastries, cakes, desserts, customers and the sweet aroma of fresh coffee, Cloverleaf Coffee & Bakery now stands with empty display cases, hoping that the coronavirus would not cost them their business.
Ever since Governor Gavin Newsom’s Safer at Home order, the business has resorted to takeout only, causing business to drop by 60 to 70 percent. Now, Cloverleaf Coffee & Bakery makes about half the original amount of bread and stopped the production of cakes and desserts.
“The biggest change we had to make to the business was switching from self serve to full service,” manager Tek Teav said. “We used to be like 85°C where you could grab the bread and we would bag it for you, but now, everything is pre-bagged to minimize exposure.”
Meanwhile, hours have shortened to 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., causing some part-time workers to work close to zero hours and full-time employees with their hours cut short drastically.
“We’re just trying to stay open, even though we’re losing,” Teav said. “ It’s pretty frustrating because there’s nothing we can do. Nothing is certain, so we can’t even plan for the future. We’re really just taking things day by day.”
Pinnacle Dental Care
As the phone of Pinnacle Dental Care and office of Dr. Tai K. Mao rang, receptionist Viola Szeman picked up and silently wished it wasn’t what she thought it was. It was another appointment rescheduling, the fourth one that day. Ever since COVID-19 started making news, business had been slow and scarce.
“As a business owner, I have to accept the up and down of the economy,” Mao said. “There is always a constant reminder that a business can be wiped out within a month if some catastrophic thing happens. For this situation with the coronavirus, it’s affecting everyone.”
To help prevent the spread of coronavirus, Mao and his team take precautionary measures, such as taking temperatures of patients before the check-up, encouraging an increase in workplace sanitation, such as more frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer, and advising ill patients to reschedule. Mao also cut work hours to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as a result of the slow business.
“I feel sympathetic towards their situation because COVID-19 is causing a lot of businesses to close down for now,” volunteer Katie Slu said. “I agree and understand that it is the best option and that safety is the top priority, but I do feel for businesses and workers as they need money to pay bills, rent, food, etc. Like Dr. Mao, many of these people have families to provide for and it is definitely making life more difficult.”
Mao is tentative about whether his office will be open or closed in the future. To help make those decisions, Mao and his team will hold staff meetings and continue to follow guidelines from the local government, WHO, CDC and CDA.
“Everyone is taking a hit from the coronavirus, not just myself,” Mao said. “We will ride this wave together and will get out of this situation.”