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Charles Darwin studied biology and evolution, not economics, but the "survival of the fittest" philosophy that sums up his work is evident in every business in Henrico County due to COVID-19.
The virus has emptied malls, closed storefronts, and shut down schools, churches, and any business that requires any crowd of 10 or more. Calls to just about any business in the county either rang without being answered or switched to voicemail that announced closings until next month. However, a few surprises remain open.
"We're not open, but our call center is talking to customers and making refunds when needed," said the receptionist for the Richmond Funnybone Comedy Club & Restaurant in Short Pump who asked to remain anonymous. "There's nobody in our Richmond location or any of our other locations. We transferred all the calls around the country here [to Orlando, Fla.]. Only our call center here in Orlando is open. And maybe not after this week."
One of the few business genres that is simultaneously hit the hardest and also able to readjust quickly is the food service industry. Ironically, the higher-end restaurants are the ones in most jeopardy since their clientele requires sit-down eating. Fast food and other quick-service options that have drive-thru windows have been able to retain a portion of their business.
In some cases, it requires creative thinking.
Giacomo and Vittoria Morici own the family-run Vinny's Italian Grill in Short Pump. Even though their restaurant has had online ordering in the past, Giacomo said that he has been forced to rethink how to use it safely.
"We’re considering adding a drive-up service so that people don’t have to leave their car," said the restaurant owner. "They can pay online and if they open the truck or back door or whatever they want we can put the food in the trunk or backseat or whatever they wish and we don’t come in contact with anyone."
The Moricis have relatives still living in Italy and Giacomo said that his immediate family here in town speaks with their distant family in Italy almost every day.
"I have a lot of friends and family all over in Italy and we hear from them every day so we know what’s happening there," Giacomo said. "A lot of people here are scared, but they are not taking it too seriously. I definitely take it more seriously because we know what [Italians] are going through. Everyday they call saying, 'Be careful!' "
Due in part to the fact that their family and friends are in one of the countries under the most strict lockdown, Giacomo has updated his ideas to help stay ahead of the fears. His idea of curbside service is a workaround of a workaround of sorts, an answer to an ever-changing question: How can we be safe?
At Vinny's, Giacomo initially began promoting the restaurant's online ordering option instead of coming in to the restaurant. That appeared to work as there were six customers sitting on or in their cars waiting for dinner to be ready on a Tuesday night.
Days later, the restaurant began working on a simplified version where customers needed to just show their credit card used for the purchase and not sign the ticket so they don't have to touch anything. But that plan was replaced with the curbside option.
"I’m 60 years old; and I was thinking of retiring," said Giacomo, who, along with his wife, has run their restaurant for 17 years. "Now I don’t know if I can think that way since things are different."
