Heart
/ BUSINESS RENAISSANCE
by Ellie Butterfield
Bounce Back Local businesses shine their ingenuity as they continue their pandemic pivot
MARCH 2020 came in like a lion with COVID-19 closing local business doors and clearing calendars. Business is back with innovation that has made us privy to a community renaissance. Here are just a few:
A Forgotten Alley becomes a Dining Ally Pre-COVID, Decatur’s restaurant scene was a hallmark of the community. Dave Blanchard’s Leon’s, Brickstore Pub and Kimball House were among those enjoying success. “We had a very healthy business, and then, that all went away,” Blanchard said. “We really had to work harder than we’ve ever worked for probably less money than we’ve made in years just to keep it going.” Safety measures of required face coverings, capacity caps and increased take-out capability were key. But Blanchard found that what really made people feel safe was outdoor seating. Thus arose the outdoor, beer garden-esque seating in the alley by Brickstore that formerly served as a parking lot. “It’s been there forever, but no one had any recollection of it,” Blanchard said. “We completely cleaned it up .… There’s flowers and tables and chairs. It sounds cool and smells nice. It’s gotten people excited about something new that’s good for the city.” One of those endeavors was a temporary soup kitchen put on by Brickstore. Open to staff and “anybody who was hungry,” all the food leftover the first few weeks of the outbreak was put to use nourishing the community. “We’ve had to get really creative with the possibilities of what you can do to continue to make your businesses relevant and thrive,” Blanchard said. “If you don’t do it, you may go out of business. So you do it, and you see this really cool thing that comes of it.” More details can be found at brickstorepub.com. 28
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