Lynne Griffin, co-owner of the Australian Walkabout Inn in Lampeter, has started working part-time at CVS to help fill the void in revenue from her bed-and-breakfast.
Brandon Martin describes the past 10 months for himself, his employer and his industry in a single word â bleak.
Martin, director of operations for American Music Theatre, has seen the formerly thriving business battered by crushing punches from COVID-19, the same as many similar venues have suffered.
With the theater temporarily closed to help fight the spread of the virus, nearly all of AMTâs 40 full-time employees have been laid off, except a handful in the box office who are working part time to answer inquiries from customers.
Not only is no revenue coming in, $1.2 million in ticket refunds have gone out so far. Meanwhile, the costs associated with its 1,600-seat facility on Lincoln Highway East â insurance, real estate taxes, maintenance â continue unabated.
Before the pandemic hit, the companies were in sound fiscal shape with âreally good balance sheets,â meaning an ample surplus of assets over liabilities. When the pandemic roared in, the companies âcut expenses dramaticallyâ and took advantage of local, state and federal relief programs, he said.
Without the relief programs, Hosler said, âIâm not sure how weâd be looking at all these applicants as still viable businesses. Thatâs what really has helped bridge the gap to this point.â
But what about surviving beyond this point, with proposals for additional federal relief programs in limbo in Congress and the timetable for widespread vaccine distribution yet to be determined?