COVID-19 wreaks havoc for some
The havoc wreaked on some businesses by the coronavirus pandemic in 2021 was tempered by positive factors that also occurred in Butler County commerce.
County shoppers and consumers saw the closing in 2021 of Fudoli's Music Shop and the Second Time Around consignment shop on Main Street in Butler, Roxy's Diner on New Castle Road in Franklin Township, Mary's Cake, Candy and Party Supplies in Butler Township's Bon Aire Plaza, Hutchinson's Dry Cleaners on Negley Avenue in Butler and Early Years Community Learning Center in Connoquenessing Township.
Those businesses represented a total of nearly 300 years serving multiple generations of county consumers, especially in the case of Steven Hutchinson, whose grandfather opened the dry-cleaning business in 1926.
While staffing issues were the reason for the closure of Early Years and the inability to get supplies was the main reason Mary's closed, the other businesses shuttered for reasons unrelated to the pandemic.
Restaurants continued to be affected greatly by the pandemic because indoor gatherings encourage the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
County restaurant owners celebrated over Easter weekend, when Gov. Tom Wolf loosened several COVID-19 restrictions that allowed for greater capacity and less strict rules regarding the sale of alcohol.
Citing a decline in coronavirus cases and rising vaccination rates, Wolf allowed restaurants to bring bar service back and no longer required food to be served with alcoholic drink orders.
Additionally, the indoor dining capacity was increased to 75% for restaurants that were self-certified, which involves agreeing to strictly comply with all public health safety guidelines and orders. Other requirements such as mask wearing and social distancing, including 6 feet between diners, remained in effect.
Judy Ferree, owner of the Hotel Saxonburg, hoped business would pick up as more residents received the vaccine.
Fred Reese, owner of the Monroe Hotel in Butler, prepared for increased patronage as the popular bar reopened on Monroe Street.
Jim Marron, co-owner of the Allegheny Grille in Foxburg, said his restaurant saw its biggest day — on Easter — since the mandated shutdown on March 17, 2020.
Many county restaurants participated in the county Tourism & Convention Bureau's Restaurant Week, held in mid-September.
Jodie Stocks of Anna Marie's Winery and Cafe in East Butler said the event was created to draw diners to local restaurants as they struggled with decreased business during the pandemic.
“We're excited to be part of it,” said Stocks, who is a winemaker and one of the managers at Anna Marie's.
All businesses faced worker shortages during the pandemic, which many blamed on the generous unemployment compensation and federal stimulus payments issued during the pandemic.
Jordan Grady, executive director of the county Chamber of Commerce, said in November that businesses used various methods to keep their shops staffed and doors open.
Grady said increasing wages, diversifying benefits and becoming creative with recruiting are ways owners and managers found reliable employees during the pandemic.
Jack Cohen, director of the county Tourism & Convention Bureau, said another issue affecting employment in 2021 was the quality of life a worker can expect with a job.
“Because of COVID, a lot of people have changed the way they live,” he said. “It's a big difference today. A lot of people have left the workforce due to the circumstances of the pandemic ... and have made it pretty difficult for businesses.”
But positive things happened in the business community as well in 2021.
The Eat'n Park restaurant on New Castle Road in Butler Township was demolished in April and a new, more modern version opened next door in May to much fanfare.Regal Cinemas at Moraine Pointe Plaza, which had closed as required during the shutdown but had not reopened, once again saw the latest movies flickering on its big screens in the summer.The Butler theaters went dark when Regal closed 536 locations in 2020 due to dwindling attendance during the pandemic.The multi-screen theater complex was taken over by MovieScoop of Pittsburgh and continues to offer moviegoers the latest movies.Miller's Shoes on Main Street in Butler, which had suffered damage from a fire in January, reopened in September.Jimmy Chiprean, owner of the 130-year-old shoe store, was thrilled to welcome customers back into the shop.“Things have been going real well. We're very glad to have our patrons back,” Chiprean said.Work was underway this summer and fall on the 50,000-square foot former Trader Horn store in Greater Butler Mart, which was leased by a discount online retailer.The shopping center's leasing agent said plans continued to move forward for a Taco Bell restaurant to be built at the Greater Butler Mart in the location of the former Country Fair gas station. He said talks are ongoing with grocery retailers in the search for a market to fill the former Friedman's in the plaza.Chicora shed its status as a food desert in 2021, as the nearby Dollar General store was renovated into a DG Market offering fresh produce and meats.Shoppers in and around the borough were without a local grocery store since the closing of Friedman's Freshmarket in 2018.Many drove to Butler or other outlying communities to buy fresh foods for their families.“I think this was something Chicora needed,” said Pat Christie of Donegal Township.Regarding industry in the county in 2021, motorists on Pittsburgh Road in Butler Township noticed signs being changed from “AK Steel” to “Cliffs” at the entrance to the former Armco plant.The longtime steel mill and major employer in the county was purchased in December 2019 by Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs, which produces iron ore pellets.The Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport also received good news in December when it was notified the airport authority will receive an annual grant of $295,000 for the next five years.The airport was one of 62 in Pennsylvania to be awarded a grant in the $70 million in funding through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funds will be used for infrastructure projects at the airport, according to Kim Geyer, county commissioner and airport authority board member.
