Some Las Cruces-area business owners excited to be back to work

LAS CRUCES - Some businesses previously deemed nonessential and forced to close temporarily under New Mexico's stay-at-home order were able to reopen Friday in a limited capacity. These small business owners are thrilled to be getting back to work. 

Nonessential businesses have been closed since March 24 when a state public health order meant to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus took effect. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham modified the order, effective Friday.

Now, nonessential retail stores can open for curbside pickup. Also permitted to open under the order are state parks with modified schedules, pet services, veterinarians, golf courses for golf only, and gun stores by appointment only. 

Dogs with funny haircuts

Inyoung Merchant owns and operates Pride and Groom, an animal grooming shop at 1625 South Main St. The shop was able to reopen Friday after being closed for five weeks.

"All of my customers have been waiting for over a month and now I'm swamped the next two weeks," she said. 

The pet groomer said she'll be working the next 10 days straight just to catch up. 

"Dog owners are happy because their dogs are suffering. They tried to groom their dogs at home but it was unsuccessful, so a lot of them came in with a very interesting haircuts," she said. 

Merchant said she's making sure to follow safety protocols. The shop's lobby is closed and there's a new Plexiglass barrier covering half of the entrance to limit contact. 

"We have to get use to it it's a pandemic so we have to be careful," she said. 

Merchant said her husband is a massage therapist who had to close his shop, and remains closed. They're living off of what they had in the bank and using credit cards. 

Though her pet grooming business is now open, Merchant said said she feels bad for owners of small businesses like nail salons or barbershops, which must remain closed. 

"Their business are all essential to them. It's how they make a living," she said. 

Learning to adapt  

Las Cruces resident CW Ward owns the printing company House of Grafix, 800 W Amador Ave., which specializes in bulk orders mostly for school sports teams.

Ward said the company continued to operate through the closure, but business was down.

"A lot of orders got canceled," he said. "Baseball orders, track and field, elementary, all those orders. So we adapted."

The business filled orders for single shirts here and there and made several signs for seniors to put in their front yards. Two weeks ago Ward said House of Grafix began making custom face masks. 

On Tuesday, Ward said he and his wife were in the middle of a 300-mask order when State Police showed up and shut them down. Ward said his understanding was that a business such as his could be open if they were making PPE. 

But by Friday, House of Grafix was able to reopen, serving customers via curbside pickups and delivery. 

Prior to the shutdown, Ward employed three workers. Now, it's only him. If he's busy, his wife or kids will come to the shop to help. Ward said he doesn't agree with closing some businesses and keeping others open. 

"Let's stop calling it essential and nonessential businesses," he said. "A dude selling produce on Highway 70, that's his essential business. Call it safe or unsafe businesses, because they're essential to somebody."

Fore! 

For the past month and a half, Vernon Bane, the head golf professional at Sonoma Ranch Golf Course, said he's spent his days kicking people off the property. Now, he doesn't have to.

On Thursday, after Lujan Grisham announced golf courses — but not the restaurants or golf shops inside — could reopen, Bane received a flood of calls.

"I spent four hours on the phone yesterday," he said. 

Still, the golf course is running at only about 40 percent capacity due to COVID-19 mitigation 

On Friday, the state issued new rules for golf courses. The rules include limiting courses to 174 players and only golfers with reservations can tee off, and tee times must be in 15-minute intervals. 

For a full list of rules for golf courses, visit https://www.newmexico.gov/jobs-the-economy/covid-safe-practices-for-all-employers/additional-csps-for-golf-course/

But the additional safety measures are worth it, he said.

"Being back open it's been a nice relief," he said. "I want people to come out to play versus me telling people to go home.

"I'm excited to be open but I want to make sure we do it right and safely," he added.

Bethany Freudenthal can be reached at bfreudenthal@lcsun-news.com, 575-541-5449 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter.