Endure and Overcome

As the COVID-19 virus has continued to worsen in the Southern California area, small local businesses are taking the hardest hit. 

Annie’s Boutique is a local run clothing store located a block up from the Palos Verdes High campus. Annie’s has been open for many years and has been a staple of the PV area. 

Featuring art and clothing created by mainly local artists in the community, Annie’s is local to the core. This local factor has been what Annie credits for getting her through the tough times this pandemic has faced small businesses. 

“I think it is definitely the loyalty factor, people would always come in saying that they wanted to support us, they didn’t want us to leave,” owner Annie Banken said. 

Through the most difficult part of the pandemic, spring 2020, small businesses all over began to switch to creative ways of continuing business. 

“We had to get creative, we started dropping off packages to customers on approval, dropping off stuff for them to try on at home, this aspect got us through March, April, and May,” Banken said. 

As the pandemic continues, the opening and closing has confused many customers, but never fear, Annie’s Boutique on 722 Yarmouth Road is still open.

“Everyday people come by and ask, if we’re still open, so we’ve really relied on having a stronger online presence to remind people we are still here and open,” Banken said. Banken has had to take measures such as cutting hours, reducing employees, and putting an emphasis on a social media based business as ways during this difficult time. 

Along with an increased use of online contact comes a loss of personal relationships they have with many customers.

“Our personal relationships with [the customers] are really limited just because they used to hang out here a lot more,” employee Kennedy Wright said. 

With schools closing, Annie’s has taken a hit.

 ”The way the whole calendar and time frame works around here is by the school, there’s mothers dropping off and picking up their kids with a minute or two to kill, so they used to come in and shop,” Banken said. 

But along with the losses from the pandemic, some positives have arisen such as an opportunity for innovation, appreciation for the community, and even further exploration of PV by people from outside the community. 

“I will say I have seen more new faces and foot traffic because more people are coming up here and walking and just discovering the area,” Banken said. 

Banken and Wright consistently expressed their gratitude and credit to the community  for helping them not only preserve, but also flourish through this time. 

“I see a lot of good stuff happening in the community, they’re making the efforts to help their local favorite spots make it, I’ve learned how fortunate I am to be in this community,” Banken said. 

Small restaurants such as Rafaello’s have faced obstacles in reaching and providing to their customers due to the virus. 

Many of the restaurants similar to Rafaello’s have turned to online ordering as their central source of income. 

“It’s almost like people don’t come in anymore, everything is through Postmates, GrubHub, Uber Eats, online ordering is really what we’ve turned to,” Manager Richard Dominguez said. 

COVID-19 has been a moving force that is always unknown, especially within the state. 

“Through March, April, and May we cut our hours, we even cut our staff from working, we started shutting down earlier and opening later, it was tough for sure,” Dominguez said. 

The loss of the heavy foot traffic from schools has seriously impacted Rafaello’s as this was a hub for many kids as an after school place to eat and hang out. 

“At the beginning it was a very big difference between having the schools and not having [the students], we still see them but we see them in delivery, we see them at their houses. Everyone ordering delivery has really helped us out though.” 

Though the tides of the virus are unpredictable it does seem like things will start improving in the near future. 

“The past few months have been  a steady increase, it’s been getting a little bit better, I think people are a little less scared of going out and ordering now,” Dominguez said. 

Rafaello’s credits PV’s tight knit community and the loyalty of their customers for helping them get through this difficult time.

“We have had a lot of support from the community, we really appreciate everyone’s business and for supporting us….I just want to say thank you to everyone and I hope you guys come back soon,” Dominguez said.