Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses across Abbotsford have temporarily closed down this week, and it seems likely that closures will continue.
Though the city has yet to completely shut down, all recreation centres have closed their doors, as well as privately-owned gyms such as GoodLife and Fit4Less. Other major business closures include the Keg, David’s Tea, Saje Wellness, Cineplex, Ikea, and Value Village, and many major companies have already laid off thousands of employees across Canada.
In downtown Abbotsford, many local businesses have also been indefinitely closed or reduced their hours, including Montrose & George, Hemingway’s, Duft & Co., and Spruce Collective. Some eateries, such as Polly Fox, Habit Project, Nine Kitchen, and Brgr Brgr remain open in some capacity, but have opted to begin offering takeout in place of their normal service.
Some local businesses are getting creative in their response to the pandemic: Oldhand Coffee shop is offering to deliver some items to customers’ doors to ensure they don’t have to leave the house. According to social media posts, Oldhand, which closed its doors on March 17, also sold some items from their shop on Friday including bulk coffee beans, mustard, tea, gift cards, and few other select goods. Field House Brewing Co. is also closed to sit-in customers, but remains available for same-day delivery orders by phone.
Both Field House and Oldhand have also offered care packages of various goods and food items to employees. Field House said the rest of its produce will be donated to the Archway Food Bank, who have been experiencing shortages of food and donations during this crisis.
Other local businesses outside of the downtown core have also taken precautionary measures. Trading Post Brewery is closed but offering online orders and delivery, Afterthoughts restaurant is staying open for takeout, and the Reach museum has closed its doors until April 7.
Under the federal government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, eligible businesses will be given a 10 per cent wage subsidy for 90 days, and tax payment dates will be extended until after Aug. 31, 2020 with no penalties or interest. The federal government also plans to increase available credit to small, medium, and large Canadian businesses through a new Business Credit Availability Program, as well as a number of other measures.
Darien Johnsen is a UFV alumni who obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with double extended minors in Global Development Studies and Sociology in 2020. She started writing for The Cascade in 2018, taking on the role of features editor shortly after. She’s passionate about justice, sustainable development, and education.
