Opinion: Support Local Businesses

By Kailey Meusel

       Local Sauk Valley businesses will yet again suffer amidst the new mitigations that took effect Saturday, October, 3rd 2020. According to Restore Illinois, under the new mitigations indoor service is not allowed at bars or restaurants, only outdoor seating and at 25% capacity.

      If you’ve lived in Illinois a great portion of your life, you can be sure of two things: the weather is highly unpredictable, and small businesses allow our community to thrive. We are entering the fall season and October is exceptionally chilly.

      I don’t know about you, but when I want to go out for a drink or to sit down and have a meal, I certainly don’t want to freeze to death while doing so. 

      With these new mitigations in effect, most local restaurants will be limited to curbside only, yet again leaving waiters and waitresses jobless. However, some local restaurants have opted to keep their dining room open, despite the new mitigations. Some that are still open according to posts on Facebook follow: Dixon: Flynnie’s, Las Palmas, Town and Country, and Corner Spot, Sterling: The Blvd, Maple Pancake House, Mom’s Diner, Parkway, Sloppy Gene’s, Manny’s, Triple P’s, Wagon Wheel, Johnny’s Bar and Grill, Rock Falls: Froggie’s, The Cooler, Whiskey Barrel, and Gazi’s Restaurant. 

      My biggest fear is that some local businesses won’t survive this pandemic and all of the obstacles that have been thrown their way since the pandemic arose in early Spring. 

      Now is the time for us to help support our small business owners and keep their business, their livelihoods thriving. You can do your part by ordering curbside, purchasing gift certificates for future use or simply spreading the word that they are open by sharing their Facebook business pages. These local businesses help support our ever-growing community, without them we will fail to thrive.