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Southwest Valley business owners get creative in wake of COVID-19 closures

Posted 3/20/20

Jason Bach knew when he opened Twiisted Riddles escape rooms in Goodyear five weeks ago there would be challenges getting people in the door as he worked to building a following, but like other small …

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Southwest Valley business owners get creative in wake of COVID-19 closures

Posted

Jason Bach knew when he opened Twiisted Riddles escape rooms in Goodyear five weeks ago there would be challenges getting people in the door as he worked to build a following, but like other small businesses across the country, he never expected anything on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic that changed the way Americans live and work in just a matter of days.

“Business just started to pick up, and there goes the momentum,” Mr. Bach said via telephone Friday, March 20. “I have had very little business in the past week.”

As of Saturday, March 21, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 104 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and one death. Forty-nine of the confirmed cases were in Maricopa County, including a Goodyear-based Cincinnati Reds employee who worked at the baseball team’s player development complex, player development complex at 3125 S. Wood Blvd. and is now quarantined. The World Health Organization reported more than 266,000 confirmed cases and more than 11,000 deaths worldwide late Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control, which only updates it COVID-19 website Monday through Friday, reported 15,219 confirmed cases in the U.S., with 201 deaths on Friday.

Like many others, Mr. Bach and his family immediately changed how they do business to keep the doors open when Gov. Doug Ducey began announcing increasingly strict measures to stem the spread of the virus. They adjusted hours, pared the number of employees onsite to two, stopped accepting walk-ins and book only private parties of up to eight at a time so there are never more than 10 people in the building.

Escape scenarios last about an hour and have been staggered so groups never overlap, Mr. Bach said. Staggering also allows enough time to thoroughly clean and disinfect the building between groups.

The Bach family is no stranger to tough times. Three years ago, Mr. Bach and his two daughters decided to pursue an escape room business after years of running backyard haunted houses. Their plans were derailed in December 2018, when his oldest daughter and 5-year-old grandson were killed in auto accident. Despite their grief, they pulled together and opened Feb. 8 at 633 S. Estrella Parkway, Suite 120.

Mr. Bach said Friday his family is determined make their business a success in honor of his daughter and grandson, regardless of what COVID-19 throws their way, and they are announcing updates on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“We’re just trying to stay afloat for their memories,” he said.

Chamber offers help, solutions

Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce President/CEO John Saffin said small business owners like the Bachs are not alone in their fight to stay solvent.

“To quote the governor, everything we’re going through is like a boulder going down a hill,” he said via telephone March 20. “We don’t know where it’s going to land.” To help, the chamber launched a “Support Local” web page, southwestvalleychamber.org/supportlocal, where businesses can share what products and services they offer and how to obtain them. Posting to the site is free, Mr. Saffin said. The chamber also has extended the service to nonprofits and charities, which are encouraged to include a list of most needed donations or other ways to help.

“We are all in new territory,” he said. “We are finding things change sometimes minute by minute.”

Mr. Saffin said the best thing business owners can do right now is to step back, think logically and make rational decisions as they adjust their business plans. They also should continue to reach out to their customers, and to those in a position to help them in terms of resources and solutions.

“Once we get through this situation, we should come back economically,” he said. “It’s the people who make a community great. It’s people that are going to get us out of this.”

Restaurant expansion postponed

Three best friends from the East Valley who started a fast-growing food empire with a single Aioli Gourmet Burgers food truck in 2013 have quickly adjusted their strategy.

Chef Tommy D’Ambrosio, Kyle Hollenbeck and Michael Cartolano were poised to open their second brick and mortar and first West Valley location in Fry’s Marketplace, 13730 W. Camelback Road, Litchfied Park in April. Earlier this month, the signs went up and the trio was working with the grocery chain to finish the space. More locations in Fry’s stores around the Valley also were in the works.

“Unfortunately with everything that’s going on, our partner Fry’s Marketplace has decided to postpone the opening,” Mr. Hollenbeck said via email March 20. “With that being said, we are excited for this partnership and when we’re able to, we plan on opening. We look forward to serving the West Valley and hope the West Valley is ready for some gourmet burgers!”

The governor’s order requiring restaurants to close their dining rooms, and the cancellation of events and large gatherings where food trucks are staples also have taken their toll on the business, which includes the restaurant at 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard in Paradise Valley as well as seven food trucks, two taco carts and a pizza cart that specialize in catering private events, birthdays and weddings.

“It’s been really hard on our business and we’re trying to keep people employed,” Mr. Hollenbeck said. One of the things they’ve done is offer reasonably priced meals created by D’Ambrosio for pick-up and delivery, and the company is keeping customers updated regularly via social media.

A cuppa joe to go

Also adapting quickly were Brittany Salazar and Deni Banach, owners of Enroute Coffee & Tea House, a popular gathering spot for friends, families and remote workers since it opened at 15605 W. Roosevelt St, Suite 107 in Goodyear last year. Salazar and Banach have always kept in touch with their customers via Facebook and Instagram on the daily, regularly sharing photos of their latest drinks, like the Birthday Cake Latte they created to celebrate their first anniversary in January.

The lobby is no longer packed packed with customers taking a break or working remotely, but the Enroute crew is still crafting drinks and packaging pastries from The Boyer Bakery of Buckeye to go.

“We have seen a decrease in some of our normal business sales, but our community has really come through for us,” Ms. Salazar said via email Friday. “We have been running different specials to appeal to our different demographic. We also have shortened our hours and pulled back on some of our staffing.”

On Saturday, a poster displayed at the counter and on social media offered drink card specials.

“For everyone asking, we have giftcards and we are giving away $$$ because we love you all and we’re grateful as heck and while you help us, we help you,” Ms. Salazar and Ms. Banach posted on Instagram, and customers responded.

“Thanks for making the call-in ordering so easy,” one wrote. “My drinks and gift card was ready for pickup and saved in the register.”

Ms. Salazar said many customers are promoting the coffeehouse on their own social media pages, and some have pick up some of the supplies, like specialty milks, Enroute uses when they’re out shopping for their families.

“Our customers have been amazing!” Ms. Salazar said. “We wouldn’t be where we are and able to adapt if it wasn’t for them. It takes a village!”

Kelly O’Sullivan can be reached at kosullivan@newszap.com or 760-963-1697. For up-to-date local reporting on all things COVID-19, Independent Newsmedia has created a webpage dedicated to coverage of the novel coronavirus: #AZNEWSMEDIA