Spring break season is a time Brown County business owners look forward to. After often-lean winters, it brings the boost their budgets need.
But this isn’t a normal year.
For the past week, restaurants have been limited to carry-out only due to executive orders from Gov. Eric Holcomb. Most in-person events have been canceled, and business owners are facing hard decisions about staffing, operations and finances.
On March 23, Holcomb ordered Hoosiers to remain in their homes for the next two weeks with the exception of work or other permitted activities, like going to the store. The order is in effect from March 25 to April 7.
Local jeweler Amy Greely decided to close her store, New Leaf, because her entire staff is at high-risk of catching COVID-19, the virus that has caused a pandemic in the United States.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]“With a customer base, especially during spring break, from communities across the Midwest, there is no possible way to know who might have been exposed and is unknowingly sharing,” Greely shared last week on Facebook.
“Oddly, financial ruin is more appealing than risking the health of people I love. Call me crazy.”
Barbara Shackelford opened Heavenly Biscuit cafe last summer on North Van Buren Street. She has closed temporarily until further notice.
“As a new restaurant in town, with just a few employees, I am still undecided about what to do,” Shackelford shared with The Democrat on Facebook last week.
“I will make it up to my employees when we reopen. Meanwhile, I am staying home and praying that things get back to normal soon.”
According to an analysis done by Oxford Economics on the economic impact of COVID-19 due to travel losses, the United States’ economy is projected to lose 4.6 million jobs as a result of travel declines in 2020.
In Brown County, 633 employees work for local restaurants, hotels and shops. Tourism makes up 16 percent of the county’s local employment, according to the Brown County Economic Development Plan released last fall. As a group, government, accommodation and food services, and retail trade make up 45 percent of jobs in Brown County.
Hard numbers were not available last week on the number of layoffs that have occurred locally because of the virus.
“Obviously, everybody is scared right now because it’s very devastating to think about going without income for a while,” said Jane Ellis, the executive director for Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Lodging impact
Patty Frensemeier, general manager of Hills O’Brown Vacation Rentals, said the rental company has seen cancellations and reservations being moved, but also visitors making new reservations since the pandemic was declared and restrictions were put in place.
“We have been exceptionally busy the last two weeks. Starting about March 9, we have been having increasing numbers of cancellations daily,” Frensemeier said.
Some cancellations are due to shows being postponed at the Brown County Music Center, or Indiana University graduation changing. Other cancellations are because people are in the military or in the medical field, so they cannot leave their job at the moment. “(Or) they are afraid and want to stay home,” Frensemeier said.
“What is most shocking is the people that are making new reservations within today and the next month.”
Hills O’Brown Vacation Rentals employs five full-time people, and contracts with part-time maintenance people as needed.
Currently, all of those employees on staff are still working normal hours, Frensemeier said on March 17.
“It is a bit scary what this could look like if it continues, but in the meantime, we are weathering the storm for now.” she said.
“I have sent an email out to cleaners that I have purchased gloves for all of them and extra disinfectant and I have notified all of my owners of the challenges we are having, so hopefully everyone just has patience as we get through this.”
Hills O’Brown Vacation Rentals continues to tell people who are keeping their reservations, or making new ones, that most of the shops are still open and restaurants are doing carry-out only.
“We explain that these are single-family dwellings, so as long as they feel comfortable with their families, come out and experience all Brown County has to offer,” Frensemeier said.
Ellis said last week she had heard from other innkeepers that some reservations are being cancelled and others are not.
The owners of the three major hotels the Brown County Inn and the Seasons Lodge and Hotel Nashville, did not return messages seeking comment last week.
Aid coming?
Many businesses are waiting to see how the federal government is going to respond with aid during mandated shutdowns.
An act which Sen. Todd Young (R-Indiana) is supporting in the Senate would provide 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. If employers maintain their payroll, the loans would be forgiven, Young’s office said in a press release issued Friday.
“The big question for us now, or opportunity, is to see what the federal government is doing with the legislation proposed right now, which will help us a lot and will have a big impact on the decisions we make,” said Jeff McCabe, a partner of BWQOHT, the parent company of Big Woods restaurants, Quaff ON! Brewing Co. and Hard Truth Hills distillery.
Over the past 10 years, the Nashville-based company, with restaurants in six Indiana cities, has grown to become one of Brown County’s largest private employers.
BWQOHT has not reduced its staff because of the virus, McCabe said Friday.
“We told all our employees that they’re definitely getting paid through this next pay period. … The good news is, we have multiple businesses, and whereas we’re taking a big hit on the restaurant side with dining-in closed, we’re seeing really strong retail sales from our brewery and our distillery, which is going to help us, and we’re staffed for sure for the takeout and delivery business that we’ve got going at all the restaurants now,” McCabe said.
He said he’s been talking to business partners and “key members” of the staff over the past couple days to make sure they understand the intent.
“My partners and I really are committed to keeping as many people as possible gainfully employed. That’s the way we’re thinking,” he said.
“We do see an end to it, and we do believe we’re going to need everybody and more when this is over.”
Early this week, BWQOHT owners did decide to temporarily close the Bloomington and Franklin Big Woods restaurants and the restaurant at Hard Truth Hills in Nashville because carry-out business wasn’t that strong. Those restaurant workers were able to file for unemployment, McCabe said on March 25. The company paid them for a full week’s work even if they didn’t work a full week, he said.
Big Woods Pizza in Nashville remains open for carry-out, as well as a food truck that’s been parked in the Brown County IGA parking lot. The distillery at Hard Truth Hills and the Quaff ON! production brewery in Nashville are still fully staffed.
“We’re hoping that as soon as we figure out the details of this bill, that hasn’t passed yet, we’re hoping that we’ll be able to bring those people back sooner rather than later. … But the backstop for this, really, is unemployment insurance, so that’s the direction we went,” McCabe said.
“If there was a program where they can stay on payroll, like a paid leave, we’re happy to do that, but with the uncertainty for their (lawmakers’) ability to act, and how long the pandemic will cause us to live in this environment … we thought we were doing the right thing.”
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Indiana small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the virus. More information can be found at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
The Brown County Community Foundation is looking into other aid opportunities. BCCF CEO Maddison Miller explains those efforts in a guest column on today’s page A4.
Early last week, Ellis had a conference call with the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.
“(They) assured us that they are working on not just health concerns, but the financial concerns and business needs as well, the business recovery side of this,” Ellis said.
“Our take on it right now is this is one day at a time. It’s very ever-changing. It’s one day at a time.”
Marketing
The CVB also has a marketing committee which Ellis said local businesses can engage to come up with creative messaging to visitors during this public health crisis.
“Nothing is set in stone, but we’re throwing ideas out right now. Could we do a virtual concert and the money go to relief fund? We’re getting our creative juices flowing.”
On the CVB’s website, browncounty.com, there is a list of shops in Nashville who have online shops if visitors feel more comfortable shopping online than in person.
The CVB is also keeping a running list of shops that are closed, so people are encouraged to call the Visitors Center at 812-988-7303 for the most up-to-date information.
The website also has a list of restaurants currently offering carry-out and links to their menus.
Outdoors open
Two main attractions, Brown County State Park and Yellowwood State Forest, remain open.
“This is a fluid situation, but we are making every effort to ensure that Hoosiers have opportunities to enjoy the outdoors while following guidelines from the Indiana State Department of Health and local county health departments,” said Ginger Murphy, {span}deputy director for stewardship for Indiana state parks.
T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Belmont closed on March 17, along with the Indiana State Museum and other historic sites. All programs and events scheduled through the end of April will be canceled or rescheduled.
Campgrounds are also open. State park inns, cabins and restaurants are closed. All property offices are now closed.
If anyone wishes to cancel or reschedule a reservation at the campground, cabins or inns due to COVID-19 concerns, the DNR will waive fees and issue refunds for reservations held through April 30. The time frame may be extended as the status of the pandemic evolves, the DNR reported.
Nature centers and activity centers are also closed, according to the DNR website.
State park inn pools and the aquatic center at Abe Martin Lodge are closed until further notice. Group reservations for camps have been cancelled with refunds issued.
Outdoor interpretive events will also continue, following the Indiana State Department of Health guidance for gatherings. The ISDH and the Centers for Disease Control recommend cancelling gatherings of 10 or more people.
Indoor interpretive programs will be rescheduled or moved outdoors. They will be cancelled if an appropriate outdoor location is not available at least through April 30, the website states.
“I have a feeling because of the conversation we just had (with the Indiana Office of Tourism Development) that they’re going to keep it (the state park) open,” Ellis said.
“At the state level, they will be putting out suggestions on how you can get out and not break the guidelines. State parks are what they’re saying, like, ‘Get out and go for a hike.’”
Ellis said the CVB does not want to necessarily encourage people to visit Nashville and the state park, though.
“We don’t want the outside contamination coming into Brown County, because you have to think about how devastating that could be, because we have such an elderly population here,” she said.
“Regardless if you have the virus, we’re seeing an impact already. We’re trying to walk that fine line. We’re trying to maybe come up with a ‘corona pledge,’ that’s what I’m calling it right now, that if you come here, please take this pledge that you will wash your hands, not go be around the elderly, (etc.).”
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The following stores have reduced hours and will now have an hour only for senior citizens to shop so that they can get items without increased contact with other people:
Brown County IGA: Hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Senior-only shopping hours from 8 to 9 a.m. begin Monday, March 23.
Family Dollar: Hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Any senior customer who wishes to come in early to shop should call Family Dollar at 812-988-6314 the day before and accommodations can be made.
Dollar General: Hours 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Senior-only shopping is available from 8 to 9 a.m. When trucks deliver a shipment, the store doors will be locked as items are unloaded and put on the shelves.
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The following local restaurants are offering carry-out, delivery or both. Menus are available online.
19th Hole at Salt Creek Golf Retreat
Phone: 812-988-4323
Carry-out and limited delivery from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Abe Martin Lodge
812-988-4418
Carry-out only.
Artists Colony Inn
812-988-0600
Carry-out (limited menu, no breakfast) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Big Woods Pizza
812-988-6004
Carry-out from noon to 8 p.m.
Brown County Inn
812-988-2291
Carry-out from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Brozinnis Pizzeria
812-988-8800
Carry-out and delivery from noon to 8 p.m.
Casa Del Sol
812-988-4535
Carry-out from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The Chocolate Moose
812-200-3101
Drive-through open/suggested, regular hours.
Emma’s Cafe
812-988-0300
Breakfast available for carry-out.
The Farmhouse Cafe
812-988-2004
Carry-out from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Gyros Food
812-318-0840
Carry-out from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hard Truth Hills
812-720-4840
Carry-out food, growlers, packaged beer and spirits from noon to 8 p.m.
HobNob Corner
812-988-4114
Carry-out and limited delivery from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ice Cream Cottage
812-988-7395
Carry-out and delivery from noon to 5 p.m.
Our Sandwich Place
812-988-2355
Carry-out only.
McDonalds
Drive-thru only.
Miller’s Ice Cream
812-988-0815
Carry-out Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in March.
Nashville Fudge Kitchen
812-988-0709
Curbside delivery of six bags of popcorn, any flavors, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nashville General Store and Bakery
812-988-6362
Carry-out, limiting access, best to call ahead, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Out of the Ordinary
812-778-9730
Carry-out beer, wine and food from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Port Hole Inn
812-339-1856
Carry-out only.
Story Inn
812-988-2273
Carry-out and delivery for food, beer and wine, Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 7 p.m.; Fridays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sugar Creek BBQ
812-988-5810
Carry-out only.
Sweetea’s Tea Shop
812-988-6515
Carry-out Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Seasons Lodge
812-988-2284
Carry-out for lunch only, Wednesdays through Sundays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Subway
Carry-out only.
SOURCE: Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau
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