The novel COVID-19 virus has been an unimaginable difficulty for everyone over the last year. Countries have shut down, people have died and life has yet to return to normal. In the United States, specifically, businesses have taken a hard beating. Essential or not, they have been shut down due to the virus and a majority have yet to reopen around the country. The government has been sending aid to these businesses saying that help is on the way when it is far from it. Simply put, throwing money at businesses will not keep them open; they need customers and the crowds that their businesses they once had.
When COVID-19 hit Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan took swift action to slow the spread of the virus and to keep his state and citizens safe. While the spread of the virus slowed down eventually with mask mandates and social distancing measures, many businesses did not open backup for months. Essential businesses were able to function under lockdown, but their non-essential counterparts were forced to close down until further notice. Non-essential businesses were closed until June of last year and for many of them, the months of not having business killed them.
In Maryland, businesses of all shapes and sizes have taken a hit. Family favorite restaurants struggled to pay the rent and keep their doors open. Small business owners in Montgomery county have expressed their displeasure with the local government’s lack of interest in helping them stay open. This argument can clearly be made. The government has said that help is on the way for small businesses, yet many have found out they are not even eligible for federal assistance.
Many know and understand the difficulty of keeping a small business open during these difficult times in the world of COVID-19. Mr. Michael Krivka, a Gonzaga parent, owns his own CrossFit gym in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which has been open for about 15 years. When the state went into lockdown, he was given a three-hour notice to clear the gym out and shut down until further notice. Closing the gym for that period of time was very difficult for him because it is his pride and joy and the income he brings to his family. Eventually, like so many others, he adapted and started to hold workouts at a local park with members of the gym.
“When COVID-19 caused our gym to shut down, we had to adapt to the changes and work with what we were permitted to do within lockdown restrictions,” Mr. Krivka said.
The gym was able to re-open on June 20th.
“It was a great day,” Mr. Krivka said about the day the gym reopening.
While he may never have the numbers the gym used to have, having the gym around has been a saving grace for so many people in the community, and it will be around for the long run.