Creativity. Support. Community. During COVID-19 closures, the Kane community is supporting local businesses and proving that out of sight is not out of mind.
The Kane Area Development Center shared a gallery of photos of businesses in the community that are members of the Kane Area Chamber of Commerce. Each business owner was asked questions about their business during the mandated closures and current era of mandated social distancing.
For some businesses, the red phase throughout Pennsylvania has required them to close completely. For others, they remain open but have had to adjust their business practice to protect employees and customers alike.
The gallery of photos, which can be seen by visiting the Kane Area Development Center Facebook page, uses the business location as a backdrop, even if those locations are not currently open. The photos are a creative way to capture this unique experience for posterity.
“It’s pretty powerful to see,” said KADC director Kate Kennedy. “It’s striking to see empty restaurants and bars that are typically full and businesses not opened at all but preserving their merchandise for when they can open up again. We wanted to capture this moment in history so we can remember what our town persevered through after it’s over.”
Arts in the Wilds
The backdrop for the Art in the Wilds photo shows clearly that this year’s festivities will be taking a different approach.
A week before the traditional show, June 28-29 a printed program will be inserted in 30,000 regional newspapers and posted on social media in an effort to draw patrons to the website to see and buy art, and to remind them of Kane and Art in the Wilds on the last weekend of June.
When asked what they are seeing in the community, Arts in the Wilds representatives responded, “People supporting people. We see sponsors stepping up to support artists, and citizens stepping up to support neighbors in need. Since so many art shows have been cancelled this year, and since many of our artists are small business owners, who make their living selling their art, this is a way for us and for you to help them.”
Other businesses that remain open include the Kane Lutheran Home (caring for residents 24/7 while visitors have been prohibited to protect residents), Olmsted Manor Retreat Center, Pepe’s Pizzeria, Roma Gardens, Table 105, CJ Spirits and several others.
These businesses have adjusted business to allow for curbside pickup or have adjusted hours as necessary but still serve the community to the best of their abilities.
Meanwhile, Lobo Fitness, Untangled by Bonnie, The Beauty Bar, the Photo and Sound Shoppe, Only Inn Ludlow, It’s Judi’s Place and WE Swanson Agency Inc. are dealing with locations that are physically closed. While some are attempting business via phone and other measures that allow for proper social distancing, some are closed entirely and waiting for the restrictions to lift.
Those businesses struggling to continue some form of customer service have fostered new partnerships, such as the Photo and Sound Shoppe working with Keystone Café & Natural Shoppe, which is open, to facilitate customer pickup of orders. Others have focused on moving elements of the business to online communication, such as use of email or posting products to Facebook or Instagram accounts, focusing on the sale of new product lines or gift cards. The Beauty Bar is one such business, offering curbside pickup or free delivery in town of products they have available.
The general atmosphere is understanding and generosity, the offer of a helping hand in numerous ways, and this comes despite the fact that Kane was the area of McKean County with the most confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“Small towns and rural towns like Kane are special because we all know each other and what happens to one person can impact us all. It’s personal,” said Kennedy. “Businesses in Kane have found ways to be creative and resourceful and the community has really risen to the call to support these local businesses to help keep them open. In the midst of the fear, anger and disappointment, there are some great stories of how our amazing Kane community is rallying to support our businesses.”
Unscripted Studios LLC, which volunteered services for this series, took all photos. Kennedy explained that additional Chamber of Commerce business members will be added to the COVID-19 Business Spotlight in the coming weeks.
