Who's 'essential?' Lorain County businesses try to figure that out

After the state put in place a stay-at-home order Sunday, companies across Lorain County worked to figure out if they were essential or nonessential. The "stay at home" order, which took effect at 11:59 p.m. Monday, allows for essential businesses to remain open, provided they follow safety guidelines and precautions. John Beckett, chairman of the Beckett companies in North Ridgeville, said he and executives were "holding our breath" during Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference Sunday because they did not know how far restrictions would go. When it was all said and done, Beckett realized the company's work was considered essential and it could continue operations without laying off any of the nearly 600 workers at the North Ridgeville facility. "We provide heat for homes and hot water, but we also have applications in the medical device field and the military," he said. Beckett's companies develop combustion products used in heating, cleaning equipment and for custom applications, and claims a presence in more than 50 million U.S. homes. Beckett said the company has been taking social distancing and disinfecting precautions seriously for several weeks to limit possible spread of the virus, even though no cases have been reported in employees at its North Ridgeville location or other sites around the country and world. Employees who can work from home are being asked to do so, even though Beckett said that group is smaller than it may seem. Many manufacturing employees work on heavy equipment that cannot be taken home for obvious reasons, so they will report for work, but their temperature will be tested when they arrive, among other precautions. "In those cases, what we are doing is rotating people in and out," Beckett said. "We are having to accommodate some of the work space aspects of it to maintain the distance." Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has taken on the role of answering as many questions as it can from county businesses. Many of the questions he got after the state shutdown regarded the gray areas of what is considered an essential business. Gallo said his staff has been in touch with the state government and received guidance from them. "A lot of our role has been a repository for information and making sure we're getting it out there for members or nonmembers," Gallo said. "We wanted to get good information out there and support all the Lorain County businesses. Because that's important right now." Many manufacturers will remain open because of what they make, and some have had to shift gears. Invacare updated the status of its business in a press release Monday morning. The company will remain open, as it is making long-term care beds and oxygen concentrators. Matt Monaghan, chairman and president of Invacare, said in the press release that demand for the respiratory products and beds have increased across the world. "We realize the current business environment comes with increased responsibility to ensure care for our associates and the communities where we operate," Monaghan said. "In accordance with all local regulations, we have implemented responsible work practices for associates required to be present at our facilities, as well as those working remotely." Dura-Line's Elyria facility will continue to operate, as it is considered an essential business. In a press release, CEO Peter Hajdu said the company is taking additional safety measures at all of Dura-Line's locations. Every day, employee's temperatures are being screened; they are disinfecting areas of high use, restricting travel and working remotely, if possible. American Fluid Power in Elyria will also remain open because of its work for military command. Bob Weltman, owner of AFP, said things will slow down for the company over the next couple weeks. "We've always been resourceful and we've gotten through it before it," Weltman said. "... I'm sure we will. We're a niche industry, so I don't have to worry about that. But it's not good. Certainly nobody expected it, but we'll get through it." Weltman said he started AFP in 2012, and left his job as an accountant. But because he's a certified accountant, Weltman said he's conservative with money. Although it'll be a challenge for AFP, Weltman said he's sure the company will come through on the other end. Wagner Electric Signs plant has been idle since last Wednesday, according to owner Mark Wagner. Shop employees are at home and office employees have been working from home. Stewart's Appliances in Elyria said it falls under the essential business guidelines. In a statement, the company said that beginning Tuesday will remain open for walk-in business, but asked that people observe a 6-foot distance from others in the store. It asked that people limit shopping at Stewart's to essential business only. The company will have new hours, which are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday until April 6 or further notice. Curbside pick-up and curbside-delivery is available, but in-home delivery and hook-up is not. The service department is similar. In-home service is not offered at this time, and appliances must be dropped off at the warehouse for a technician to look at. "We are sorry for the inconvenience but hope to keep all of our employees and customers safe and free from this horrible virus," the press release said. "This is an extraordinary time in all of our lives and we hope we can get through this together. We are trying to do our part in this event to help get our lives back to normal." As a chemical manufacturer, Lubrizol in Avon Lake will be permitted to continue operations. In an email, director of global communications Alicia Gauer wrote chemical manufacturers are "considered critically important in the COVID-19 environment." "We've instituted a variety of practices and protocols to ensure these materials remain available, while at the same time protecting our employees as our priority," she wrote. The company had already been taking employees' temperatures when they entered the Avon Lake facility, as well as instituting strenuous social distancing and disinfecting practices. As of last week, employees at the plant were only completing activities that have been deemed essential. Riddell's North Ridgeville facility, which makes football gear including helmets and padding for the NFL and other organizations, will close until at least April 6. Riddell employs 391 Ohioans and uses a seasonal, temporary workforce of around 150 employees at the North Ridgeville facility, according to a release from the company. Only essential roles are being performed by the company as a result of the governor's mandate. A statement from Riddell says the company "values the many contributions of its North Ridgeville team, and looks forward to reopening the facility upon receiving approval from the state of Ohio to continue manufacturing industry-leading football helmets and protective equipment." Last week, the Chamber of Commerce established a website called Lorain County Strong in response to the shut down of dining-in at restaurants and bars. The website provides links to resources for business owners. "(Restaurants have) been a changing target because some of the restaurants haven't been able to pivot the way they wanted to pivot," Gallo said. "Some have decided to shut down for the next two weeks and see how things are after that." Golden Ginger in Elyria is among the Chinese restaurants that have quietly closed. Nationwide, some have faced discrimination from customers because COVID-19 originated in Wuhan, China. Manager Nikki Li said she did not encounter that kind of racism. The decision to close was made because she was worried about getting sick, or unknowingly passing the disease to others. "A lot of people are afraid," she said before closing last Thursday. Business had been holding strong. But as the governor gradually shut down more and more businesses to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Li said temporarily closing was the right thing to do. She asked her uncle, who owns the business, for permission to close and he agreed. "Sometimes the older people come in, and we know they are at risk," Li said. "I don't want to lose money, but I don't want people sick." Gallo said the Chamber of Commerce has been preparing for a theoretical pandemic since he's been on it for 15 years, but no theoretical planning could prepare for an actual pandemic. "We really want to be the calming force," Gallo said. "There are so many things happening and you can get overwhelmed with the news on a regular basis, and we're just trying to get the information out there." The Mermaid's Tale, a small boutique and jewelry store in downtown Amherst, closed last Wednesday. Seeing a storm brewing, owner Judy Recknagel began to halt shipments at the start of March, and two weeks ago started laying off employees. She's still selling what goods she can while the doors are closed, offering delivery by mail and curbside pick-up, but she said business has slowed nearly to a standstill. Recknagel said the state of emergency reminds her of the weeks after 9/11, and while nervous she believes her store will be able to ride out the closure. Full-time workers have all successfully applied for unemployment and Recknagel said she hopes to hire them back soon. The story is different for part-time workers who have been let go, at least for a few months. "I think we have the heart to all pull through this, but it's not going to be easy," Recknagel said. "It's going to be a long haul. It's going to be something we have to all get through together, and I believe we can." The Chamber of Commerce has also been providing guidance for nonprofits, and whether they could fall under small business loans, and have also been working with insurance companies and utilities. When Lorain County and Ohio do come out of the pandemic, Gallo said he hopes that the chamber is established as the place that can help small businesses. He said he knows not everyone will make it, but he hopes they'll see a lot of "unintended entrepreneurs" -- people who may lose their jobs, but decide to open a new business. Bob Fisher, who owns Premier Toyota in Amherst, said he is keeping "a modest staff" on hand, with employees working remotely and technicians making repair calls. He said the dealership will continue to pay and provide benefits to staff while they're home. Sales have been hit hard — they're down about 40 percent and expected to bottom out soon, according to Fisher. That's not bad, considering the crisis, he said. A lot of sales are being made online, even with some people skipping test drives. Premier had about 30 leads come in Monday, he said. "I think it's exciting because it's going to accelerate digital transactions beyond where it has been," Fisher said. He made comparisons to 9/11 and how sales suffered, but said he believes they will rebound faster after the coronavirus orders are lifted. For now, interest rates are low if you can afford to act. "It's going to end," Fisher said. "This is not the end of the world." The carpeting and flooring store Totally Floored in Oberlin moved to appointment only jobs and closed its store Monday. "Business is slow this time of year," sales associate William Folley said. "We usually find a way to combat it." Totally Floored had cut its hours by two hours on Mondays and Thursdays and had two of its employees working from home. The family owned business has seen many customers coming in for what they call a "cash and carry," buying materials and installing them themselves as home projects. The store plans to re-open April 6 and asks customers to call or text for appointments.