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Mitrano Hosts Talk With Area Businesses

Ariel’s Bed & Breakfast in Mayville is owned by Margo Stuart, who participated in a discussion of business owners about the coronavirus outbreak that was hosted by Tracy Mitrano, Democratic candidate for New York’s 23rd Congressional District. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

A virtual round table discussion was hosted by a Democratic candidate for New York’s 23rd Congressional District with regional business owners who have been impacted by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, outbreak.

Tracy Mitrano, D-Penn Yan, invited Margo Stuart of Ariel’s Bed & Breakfast in Mayville, Charlie Hunt of Rye Bar & Restaurant in Elmira and Jed Ashton of Northstar House in Ithaca to join her for the first Tuesdays Talk With Tracy discussion held online.

Each business owner discussed how the pandemic has impacted its business so far.

“It’s a disaster,” said Stuart, whose bed and breakfast is located one mile from the Chautauqua Institution. “I typically cater to Chautauqua people. I’m usually booked for the summer by now. Right now, I have three reservations. People started to make cancellations immediately (following the coronavirus outbreak).”

Stuart, who makes Santa Claus costumes year-round, said she started to make mask to sell to people during the pandemic to recoup some of the money she will lose.

“I don’t think the B & B is going to make any money this summer,” she said. “I’m getting real creative.”

Hunt, whose restaurant is still open for curbside pickup and local delivery, said it has been a matter of adopting and adjusting to the changing circumstances that “no one has ever been through before.”

“We went from 30 employees to three,” he said. “Everyone who is working, really wants to work. We start every week asking, ‘Do you really want to do it.”’

Hunt said the employees and himself are concerned about the impact they are having and if it’s right to remain open during this time.

“There is a balance there,” he said. “We’re doing the best we can to get through the week.”

Ashton said, at first, he offered deliveries after the outbreak started, but has since closed his business.

“That did OK. We could have piecemealed that together for a few more weeks,” he said. “The main thing for us is a lot of the staff didn’t feel comfortable to come into work. A lot of the staff have small children and would need to find child care anyway.”

Ashton said, even though the restaurant is closed, he is still handling day-to-day business administration.

“We’re trying to figure out how to talk to suppliers. This is where we are at,” he said. “We are trying to do what we can to pay (suppliers). People are understanding for the most part.”

Mitrano offered some words of encouragement to the three business owners.

“We will get through this. We will experience lost, but we will get on the other side of this,” she said. “We will get back to a place that feels like it was before this hit.”

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