Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Rio Grande Valley businesses have changed their policies to ensure the safety of their customers and prevent the spread of the virus.
“A lot of businesses are being affected,” said Nayeli Zenteno, marketing director for the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. “As of today, the governor signed an ordinance for restaurants, bars and gyms to close down. … That’s a huge portion of our members.”
The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce also provides the latest information about COVID-19 to local businesses. It works with the city to share up-to-date information and has an online webpage that provides information on the types of precautions small businesses are taking. The list includes restaurants such as Armando’s Pizza, Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Aguilar Meat Market and Delia’s Specializing in Tamales.
More information can be found on the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce webpage. Information may not be up to date as the businesses are responsible for contacting the chamber if they desire to make changes.
Various chain restaurants, such as Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks, have closed dine-in services and offer only drive-thru.
The Rider contacted Delia’s for information regarding the safety precautions its restaurants are taking. However, they referred the newspaper to its social media pages. No further information was provided.
According to the restaurant’s Facebook announcement, Delia’s will temporarily close the dining rooms at all of their locations to limit person-to-person contact. Their drive-thru service will remain open and shipping services are available as well through the website. At its South 23rd Streetlocation in McAllen, the restaurant will offer curbside services because this location does not provide a drive-thru option.
Maryann Pinon, co-owner of Grind Coffee Co., located at 315 W. University Dr. in Edinburg, said sales have dropped 25% to 30% over the past week with new policies implemented.
Pinon said they are trying to get as creative as possible to keep the business running, such as offering curbside service and also letting people purchase coffee bags online.
“We’re trying to get as creative as possible to, you know, still be here for the community especially like the EMTs, the doctors, the nurses, you know … everyone who’s working overtime right now,” she said.
Pinon said in the midst of all this chaos, the coffee shop has seen a tremendous amount of support from the community.
“There’s a lot of bad, but the beautiful thing that has come from it is just seeing how the community wants to help to keep this place open,” she said.
Asked why it is important to stay open during a time like this, Pinon replied the biggest thing is taking care of her employees.
“We just want to make sure that they have the funds to continue to support themselves,” she said.
One of the ways Pinon does this is by distributing the tips she and her business partner make to their employees.
If worse comes to worse, Pinon said the coffee shop will facilitate some sort of paid work leave so her employees can still sustain their livelihood by paying for their bills.
“We’re doing this to just be a light in this darkness that we’re facing right now,” she said.
