PORTLAND, Ore — Businesses closed by the coronavirus began coming back to life in Clatsop County Friday. In Astoria, locals noticed an increase in traffic through downtown.
Hairstylists returned to Salon Boheme for the first time in seven weeks. Michelle Green said its been a long break. She applied for unemployment but heard nothing from the state.
“At first I was very nervous and a little bit scared but getting back in and doing it – this is great,” she said. Both the stylist and her customer, Susan Leonard wore face coverings. Green pointed out many of her customers last had their hair done four months ago.
Leonard is thrilled to be back in the chair. “Oh, it's marvelous! Ha ha ha! I’ve waited so long!” she said.
A couple blocks away the restaurant T Paul’s Urban Café is open for take out and that is not changing with the relaxed restrictions that began Friday. Co-owner Teona Dawson said her staff of 45 is down to just 11.
She doesn’t think she’ll make a profit if she opens up to dining because she can only bring in half the normal amount of customers but it will take the full staff to support them.
She’s also nervous this first day about everyone rushing to the coast. “We’re a little worried about the flood gates opening and people going, 'Oh! Astoria’s open, everybody let’s go to the coast,' and we’re like, 'No, we need to keep our numbers low so we can really fully open,'” she said.
Clatsop County Commission Board Chair Kathleen Sullivan agreed. “We are not ready for an influx of people. That is not what we’re looking forward to,” she said.
To the south, in Seaside, the message is the same, please wait before you come—many businesses are not ready yet.
“I got the sense from cruising down Broadway and going around the turn around that its gradual- you see some businesses open and you see some people but its not a flood and I think that’s important right now,” said Seaside spokesman Jon Rahl.
Across the street at the Handsome Wolf Barbershop, owner Joshua Smith is thrilled to be back and cutting hair. He also applied for unemployment and heard nothing from the state.
Now, he’s booked for the next three days. “Oh man- it’s amazing! I don’t—I don’t think you can see the smile on my face right now but this feels pretty good,” he said behind a face mask.
Access to the famous ocean beach at Seaside is closed until Monday morning. But business owners like David Posalski have returned.
He owns Tsunami Sandwich Company and two other food businesses in Seaside. The government help he applied for came through.
"Everything came in pretty timely. Unemployment took awhile but the federal programs came in just like they said they would,” he said.
Now- he’s hoping for an uptick in business—this is springtime and places like Seaside may not be ready for huge crowds, but business owners won’t mind a bit more traffic.
“We’re used to getting a lot of day-trippers, people coming out just to enjoy the beach for the day and we hope to be busier starting on Monday,” Posalski said.