TALKING TO LOCALS
Determined to Survive
Our local businesses share their perspectives on fighting COVID-19
Wes Wilkes,
Hardware Pizza
How has dealing with the
COVID-19 shutdown changed
the way you do business?
We did dine-in as long as we
could with social distancing,
then we went to curbside, well
actually, it was outside dining.
Then we were forced to do
take-out only. Once we got to
that point, we started looking
for other ways to do business.
We opened a Hardware Market
to help the community because
we realized that going to the
grocery stores or the large
retailers wasn't an option for
many people. They also weren’t
able to find beef, poultry, or
basic staples like sugar, flour
and toilet paper. We had access
to those things through our
distributors. Our market allows
customers to buy directly from
us–even frozen items and fresh
produce. Customers place orders
with us on Fridays and Tuesdays.
Then they are able to come pick
them up throughout the week
by way of curbside service. It
provides convenience for them,
and it doesn't require contact
with anyone. One of the newest
things we’ve started is Hardware
to Go in which we offer some
of our favorite menu items for
pickup. Customers can take it
home, put it in the oven and
have a meal ready for that night.
The experience has taught me
that you have to adapt in order
to survive.
What outcome do you
hope to see?
When we are able to reopen,
we hope our customers will
realize the effort we've put into
updating Hardware while they
were gone. We spent many days
cleaning and remodeling, and
we look forward to having the
customers back in here. Our
biggest fear is the possibility
that we may be reopening our
economy a little soon. I hate to
see the hardships that people
are facing, but at the same time,
I think we’ve got to win one
battle. Right now I’m concerned
we haven’t won the economy
battle, and we haven’t won the
Covid battle.
10 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE
When the news first surfaced of a strange new coronavirus affecting people in Wuhan, China, it was hardly a blip on the radar for
many in South Georgia. Most people continued to make vacation plans, wedding plans and graduation plans not knowing that within a
few months all of these things, along with the lives of people we loved and a thriving economy, would be severely interrupted.
COVID-19 caused confusion and shutdowns all over the country. Airlines stopped sending planes overseas, restaurants closed,
beaches were barricaded and retail shops were shuttered. Small towns escaped some of the tight restrictions–people could still move
about, enjoy their yards, and drive over to a neighbor's home to speak from a "safe" distance. But one thing rural communities didn't
escape was the weight this global crisis would have on their small businesses.
Small businesses often start with a dream, a lot of faith and a commitment to flexibility. During this time, we've seen our small
businesses get creative with the way they serve the community. We asked a few of them to give us their perspective on how to deal with
a pandemic and come out stronger. And what we learned is faith, hope and creative ideas are pulling them through!