Dear Roy Cooper,

The American dream is to own operate and grow a small business. At 5 pm March 17th, with three hours notice, that privilege was taken away, in the process, removing our inalienable right to make a living which allows us to provide for our families. Although we appreciate the severity of the pandemic at that time no thought seems to have been given to the crushing financial impact this would have, particularly on all small businesses. Monies lost the last three months will never be recouped, and meanwhile our debts rise.  

Small businesses in North Carolina are dying. Restaurants have been allowed to open at 50% capacity, which does not allow them to fill all their seats and become profitable. At a 50% capacity they are not able to make money, Bars are not allowed to open at all, putting them into the third month of closure. Many small businesses are struggling to survive and this can't go on any longer. Businesses will be forced to close for good and businesses owners will lose everything.  No thought seems to have been given to how a restaurant/bar after a three to five month hiatus can even finance its own reopening. Restocking, restaffing, and the payments for outstanding utility bills are just a few of the issues facing any possible reopen scenario.

Bars, Restaurants and all small businesses need to be able to not only open, but to open at full capacity. All seats need to be filled to allow the businesses to become profitable and start to make money. There are bills that need to be paid and with 3-4 months of zero income makes this impossible. Opening up at 50% will not allow these businesses to survive and North Carolina needs to get the economy back up and running. Give businesses the chance to get back out there and start making money. Give owners the right to show that they can run their businesses while following social distancing rules, and give patrons the chance to make educated decisions about where they can go and what they can do. Give bars and restaurants their chance to open and make money and save the small businesses in North Carolina. Put our vendors back to work, Food companies, Beer distributors, Liquor, Linen, Garbage, and Exterminators etc. etc.

Monies lost in the last three months will never be recouped. Opening at 50% will not allow a bank or an investor to see a correct business plan or give them trust in our future. A restaurant at 100% capacity does not always achieve 100% occupancy. Without the 100% capacity it is virtually impossible for a restaurant, or any small business to function never mind make a profit. Unless we operate at 100%, small businesses listed above are better off not opening or will slowly die over the next three months. The losses we already had for independent small business owners are back breaking. At 50% capacity you are driving small businesses into guaranteed economic despair and failure, financial ruin, and bankruptcy. At 50% we all still need financial assistance. Many of us will never recover.

The narrow mindedness of our governor to think that at 50% capacity for restaurants or 0% capacity for bars will allow the hospitality industry to thrive in North Carolina. If we go through this for another 3 months, the industry in North Carolina will not be able to survive.  It drives small business owners crazy to see Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target, Harris Teeter, Lowes, Home Depot, in most cases, allowing as many customers as before. It is also extremely insulting to people’s intelligence to allow breweries and restaurant to open without the thought of letting private bars without kitchens open.  Our bars have the exact same layout as many restaurants and breweries.  We know how to socially distance ourselves like all major retailers. We have been watching the model for three months now, we can copy that and also be open again with moderate success. Meanwhile bars, gyms and a “selection” of other  businesses have not been granted this tiny branch of hope and are now possibly going to be forced to wait another two months, depending on the whim of our state government. However, we are seeing our customers making the 15 minute drive to South Carolina to spend their money there.  We doubt that any of these “decision makers” playing with our families futures would be quite so content to have their incomes removed for an indefinite time period. We must give businesses the chance to survive and do our part to get the North Carolina economy back on track.  Small businesses are the lifeblood of America and we are now in the struggle of our lives and in some cases are going to suffer from the harsh reality of bankruptcy. We did not think our electoral leaders would be the ones to force it upon us and idly stand by while their constituents starve to death!  Our businesses, hopes and dreams for our families, mental health, and futures are being destroyed. Our daily sales are our only income and these have been removed.  WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Sincerely,

Robert Nixon