By Cheryl Jahn

Small businesses forge ahead

Aug 26, 2020 | 4:40 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – We’ve all heard the horror stories about how longstanding businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. But what about those small niche market businesses?

“The idea of the Makerie was something that was two or three years in the making,” explains owner Kim Hayhurst. “And we’ve been eyeing up properties for quite a while. And we signed the lease for this space a week before the world basically shut down. We were locked in and had to forth with a lot of faith and a lot of hope that things are going to work out.”

She says she had to re-configure her business plan. Luckily the floor space is large enough to accommodate physical distancing. But there is more.

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“This is a space where people are touching and holding and sharing scissors and tools and those kind of things. So the sanitation process that we’re going to have to do is extensive.”

A few short blocks away, you can find Amber Cross’ lifelong dream. Buskers Rock Merch & Venue is a restaurant that centre around music and memorabilia. She opened her doors in November and, by February, the sky was the limit.

“February, we were really picking up. We were starting to get busy. At the beginning of March, we had all sorts of events and bands booked for the basement. And then all Hell broke loose.”

Cross has since re-opened but not before having to lay off all her staff. Now, she and her partner run the place, putting in long hours.

However, she is working at getting the banquet room ready for bands once again. Safely, of course.

In the meantime, Hayhurst has yet to open her doors. That’s happening on Saturday.

“It’s going to be time-consuming and staff-intensive. So it’s going to be an interesting process to go through, for sure.”

But “go through” she will. As will Amber.