TULSA, Okla. — With the third case of COVID-19 in Oklahoma, and new cases every day throughout the United States, it's not if, but when we could start feeling the impact of cancellations here in Green Country.
2 Works for You spoke to small business owners here in Tulsa about the trickle down impact they could be experiencing.
"I am concerned, it's just me and my family that own this business," Alan Fusco said. "There is a lot of people that count on us to support their families. 15 people or so. It's not a big company, but it still would affect people if we started getting really slow."
Fusco is the owner of Blue Moon Bakery Cafe on Brookside in Tulsa.
He says there hasn't been a difference in customer sales, but understands that can change as coronavirus cases slowly increase in Tulsa.
"If we couldn't keep people on, and we can afford to pay our bills," Fusco said. "It's really wait and see at this point, but we are putting our best foot forward. Staying positive, trying to be real proactive with everything."
He says employees washing their hands is common sense. The Tulsa Health Department has strict rules for businesses.
"I bet we wash our hands five to six times an hour easy," Fusco said. "My skin gets so dry, my hands from constantly washing them."
Bill Grant is one of the partners of R Bar and Grill. He says his business is bracing for the impacts of pro sports being postponed or canceled.
"The bigger issue may be by any stretch is, we are a sports bar," Grant said. "We have 14 televisions, a lot of people, especially local teams are competing in the NCAA. Some of the big 12 tournaments I guess that have been modified."
Grant believes things will get worse, before they improve.
"You get one person who gets two people, and they hit two people, and it's not long before you have hundreds of people running around like in these pockets we've seen in the U.S."
He says cab drivers won't be driving to tournaments, restaurants and hotels will be empty causing a ripple affect to the economy.
"If our servers aren't making money then they are not gong out and buying something in a retail shop," Grant said. "The person in the retail store didn't get to work as many hours, so they are not going to dinner across the street at Mondos. It just goes on and on."
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