SPOKANE, Wash. — Several businesses prepared to close Wednesday following Governor Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order, requiring all non-essential businesses to close for two weeks.
The order left many businesses around Spokane, like the Groovy Merchandise record shop in the Garland District, packing up their supplies and preparing to close their doors.
David Thoren owns the record shop and said its sales are his only source of income.
“It’s kind of scary, just the uncertainty on the other side,” Thoren said.
He said he’s considering selling some of his records online to maintain some of his sales.
“That’s one thing that’s scary right now with a small business. Some people may have just opened a business, and this might just put them right back out,” he said.
Though Inslee’s order allows essential businesses like grocery stores, restaurants and gas station to remain open, some of these businesses are choosing to close.
“Once we sell our last piece of pizza, or by 8 p.m., whichever comes first, we’ll be closed,” said Juli Norris, manager of Republic Pi.
Norris also manages Flying Goat Pizza and Downriver Grill, both of which she said will close Wednesday.
“We just want to get ahead of this as quick as we can,” she said. “A lot of the people we see come into our restaurants, we see every day. I think that’ll be the hardest part.”