Support Local Business

The Corona Times – April 22, 2020

by Patti Jensen and Libby Phillips

Today’s post comes from an advertisement placed in the Mitchell News-Journal  concerning the local economy and how residents can help support businesses during the lockdown. We are including information on the restaurants providing service for use by readers during the pandemic and as a record of how they were coping with the situation.

A website wearemitchell.org, has been established to promote supporting local businesses during COVID-19.

Screenshot of the wearemitchell.org website

The wearemitchell.org website

There are many ways to support local businesses during this time who are facing loss of revenue, layoffs and concerns for the future.

Customers cannot dine in restaurants, however, restaurants remain open for call-in orders and takeout as well as gift-card orders. Many are offering curbside service. Make a plan to order out a little more than usual during this time, and don’t forget to tip!

Shops and businesses remain open and it is critical we continue to support them. Cash flow is a serious concern for these businesses at this time. Many shops and businesses have had to close but it is critical that we find ways to continue to support them. You can show your support by ordering a gift card or certificate. You can visit the store’s online shops and order items online for curbside pickup or have them shipped. (Maybe go ahead and get a jump start on your Christmas list!)

Don’t forget about our local nonprofits and organizations who have been forced to cancel fundraising events. Give them a call to make a donation. Visit www.wearemitchellorg to plug into ways to support our local businesses. Follow the Mitchell County Chamber Facebook page and tag us in your posts so that we can see them and share them to help promote your business. Share the social media graphics to your own pages to help our small businesses see the outpouring of support throughout our community. Make a plan for your business, family and church to support our local businesses throughout the coming weeks and months. Businesses are encouraged to call the Chamber at 828-765-9033 with any updates they need distributed as well as any needs they are facing.

Sincerely,
Patti Jensen, Executive Director
Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce

Call to Place Your Order…

  • Anchor’s Away – 828.520-1700; takeout 2.6:30 pm. Wednesday-Thursday; noon-7 p.m. Friday: 2-7 p.m. Saturday
  • Bonnie & Clyde’s Drive-In – 828-688-2233: takeout 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday: call-in and pick-up window: full menu
  • Burger King – 828-766-5589; drive-thru only
  • City Drive-In – 828.765-4480; curbside and carryout only; 11 a.m.•8 p.m. Monday•Saturday
  • CJ’s BBO – 828-520-1090; takeout and temporary drive-thru 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; limited menu
  • Claudia’s Authentic Mexican – 828-284-2483: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
  • DTs Blue Ridge Java – 828-766.8008. curbside and carryout; 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday
  • El Ranchero – 828-765-6222; takeout only
  • Fox & the Fig – 828-592-5005; curbside service: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
  • Hardee’s – 828-765-4893; drive-through only; 5 a.m-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
  • Hef’s – 828-765-2245; curbside pickup; 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Las Cruses – 828-352-2338; takeout; temporary menu; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
  • Lee’s Country Café – 828-688-5599: carryout; daily specials; 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday; window pick up with option of leaving on table outside
  • Mammies Kitchen – 828-688-7272; carryout window; 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday
  • McDonald’s – 828-765-0309; drive-thru: 4 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
  • Mountain Holler – 828-537-5005: curbside: call for hours
  • No. 3 Grill – 828-520-1475; takeout: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday
  • Southern Ridge Café – 828-537-2023; to-go orders: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday-Friday
  • Subway – 828-765-3467; 9 a.m.-7 p.m. every day; Subway mobile app
  • Switzerland Cate & General Store – 828-765-5289: open daily; all and they will leave outside on table
  • Tropical Grill – 828-765-0909; takeout: full menu: 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday
  • Western SIzzlin’ -828-765-9151; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday

 

Libby Phillips and Spruce Pine Main Street shared these thoughts to help businesses as they struggle to stay open.

To say we are experiencing a time like no other is an understatement. Please know Spruce Pine Main Street is here to offer support the best we can. We will continue to monitor the Coronavirus situation as things evolve and will notify you of any pertinent, confirmed information as it becomes available to us through the local government, CDC, DHHS and Department of Commerce. In the meantime, we are all aware of how serious this is and how it will affect our small businesses and our downtown.

Here are some tips:

If your business is staying open, publish commitment to public health and outline actions for ensuring a clean facility and healthy staff; have hand sanitizer available for customers and latex gloves and social media presence.

Keep customers updated on new experiences or products you’ll offer when conditions improve.

Develop customer membership programs, such as “subscribe and save” on delivery or pickup of coffee beans, fresh produce, etc.

Develop online shopping list services. For example, many grocery stores offer grocery pickup or delivery to customers who submit shopping lists online.

Offer digital services and support to virtually sell, answer questions and provide customer service.

Keep it lively! Offer trivia nights via livestream and provide virtual tours of
your shop.

Thoughts and prayers to each of you as we navigate this evolving situation.

Sincerely,
Libby Phillips, Executive Director
Spruce Pine Main Street

We Want to Tell Your Story

If you have stories, images, or videos that you would like to include in The Corona Times, please e-mail mitchellnchistory@gmail.com with your stories and files for inclusion. If you have problems sending us videos, please e-mail and we will make arrangements for you to upload the video to us.

About the Numbers

You will note a series of numbers contained in the blog. They document the spread of virus through confirmed cases by the federal Centers for Disease Control and by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. These are the official totals provided by state and local government at the date of the post and do not include estimates or cases not confirmed by these agencies. This is our effort to provide an accurate gauge of confirmed virus spread as it continues during the pandemic.

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7,220

Cases in North Carolina
4/22/20

242

Deaths in North Carolina
4/22/20

434

Current Hospitalizations
in North Carolina
4/22/20

736

Cases in Western North Carolina
4/22/20

5

Cases in Mitchell County
4/22/20

37

Deaths in
Western North Carolina
4/12220

828,441

Cases in the United States
4/22/20

46,379

Deaths in the United States
4/22/20