With many storefronts in downtown Chula Vista closing doors due to the COVID-19 epidemic, one store owner is reaching out to his fellow businesses and offering to sell their merchandise with his new mini mall setup. Brew Bar owner Alex McDaniel said he began to reach out to businesses after seeing the effect of closed businesses on Third Avenue.
“Over the course of the past couple of years, those of us on Third Avenue know that this has been a project not only dear to the hearts of those in Chula Vista after watching Third Avenue floundering over the years,” said McDaniel. “And now, we are seeing life flowing through it. The city poured a lot of money into it and it represents Chula Vista supporting Chula Vista. As we were witnessing the mandatory orders coming out, one by one, people who were supporting the same businesses that I support began to close. Barber shops, vintage clothing and small shops that really depend on coming in, seeing the product and purchasing it. They became the non-essential.”
McDaniel said he is working with vendors and shops similar to him, and that they have always worked hard to help each other. His sister’s shop is in downtown San Diego and he is its only wholesale account because he fell in love with one of its products.
“Because of their location, their hours drastically changed, seeing the veil drop and the true nature of all the symbiosis in businesses needing each other,” said McDaniel. “We talk about this when everything is normal and everything is hunky dory, but as soon as we get into a crisis like this, you really start seeing the necessity that one type of business has for another type of business.”
McDaniel realized that if he was going to be allowed to continue operating because he was classified essential, he felt he should review the manner in which business is conducted at his location. He said business operations are pretty straight forward for his bistro/café. You walk in, look at the menu, order, step aside and wait for your order while maintaining social distance. But McDaniel is utilizing his empty seating space to help other local businesses that are not able to sell their wares due to closure.
“Because I have a space that is no longer useful, figured I would convert the space into a mini mall,” said McDaniel. “I ask people who have to be closed to contribute one or two items to set up and represent themselves as a business. Like a farmer’s market. I’ve set up the tables and stools, reached out to some local businesses and they provided some T-shirts, stickers and some things that other industries would call swag.” McDaniel said anything they can sell can be some line of income for a business that is closed. His barber is Mickey, of Mickey Lou’s Barbershop who just opened his location across the street from his location. McDaniel offered to let Mickey display some products he has normally has inside his shop, and gift certificates that can be redeemed when his shop is open.
“It gives me the opportunity to be a location that he can say to his customers, ‘If you are looking for a way to support me, you can go over to the Brew Bar and buy a gift certificate,’” said McDaniel. “There is no catch. Someone can walk into the Brew Bar, buy a certificate or product from Mickey Lou’s and that order goes straight into Mickey Lou’s cashbox. There’s no percentage, no rent. This is just a show of solidarity and at least an opportunity for other businesses to make a few bucks.”
We all know that this is not going to save their business, said McDaniel, and that is the idea that drives this concept.
“Sometimes, just to be able to function in some manner could be uplifting in terms of morale and maybe they’re just a few bucks off on making a payment,” said McDaniel. “If I am the central, and people are coming in buying from me, over the course of standing in line, I’ve set squares on the floor, six feet apart. There are only six squares, and five of those squares are scattered around the room. Even the exit line is created so people can maintain a six-foot distance.”
McDaniel said he set his store up so everybody who peruses around the room has the ability to pick up items from other businesses, order, check out and leave. To keep the social distancing, he said there are only six people allowed in the café at a time, plus a couple of employees, keeping less than 10 people in the business at all times. McDaniel said this gives people an opportunity for those who don’t shop in some stores on Third Avenue, and those who cannot go into support these businesses as they normally do.
Less than two weeks ago, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the State of California’s efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus by issuing a mandate on social-distancing and changing businesses’ operations based on their being “essential” or “non-essential.” McDaniel said, “neighboring businesses on Third Avenue in Chula Vista have felt the pain of having to close their doors except restaurants, cafes and some breweries doing takeout. By providing a space for other businesses to retain presence in the community we aim to create connectivity as the uncertainty of this crisis continues. Brew Bar not only wants to help keep these businesses afloat but also help to keep morale afloat by encouraging people to safely come support and continue making this a positive and creative space.”
