Some local businesses reinventing themselves in the face of COVID-19 Pandemic forces many small businesses to reinvent themselves By Bill Murray | February 25, 2021 at 7:44 AM EST - Updated February 25 at 7:42 PM WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The federal government estimates 400 thousand small businesses, across the country, have been shuttered because of COVID. There’s no denying it’s been a tough year. Many businesses are having to re-invent themselves to stay afloat. Jennifer Luper thought she owned a popular restaurant, living her dream. “First the hurricane, then COVID and we had to make some changes” said Luper. “When the governor restricted dining size, we knew we were going to have to something different in order to stay open.”