Franklin Business Owners Reflect on Reopening
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Today Tonight HIGH LOW Go With the Flow: Shrimp & Petroleum Festival on 85 68 May is great for hold Forecast Fabre out as principal of Morgan Wednesday: High near catfish PAGE 7 85. Southeast wind 5 to 15 City High mph. Jim Bradshaw: Mystery Wednesday Night: Part- ly cloudy, low around 68. Gadget Did It All Governor's brother sues China Southeast wind around 10 PAGE 2 mph. PAGE 4 Franklin, Louisiana ‘The Voice of the Teche’ $1.00 14 Pages Volume 137, No. 25 © 2020, LSN Publishing Co., LLC Wednesday, May 13, 2020 http://www.stmarynow.com Franklin business owners reflect on reopening By CASEY COLLIER The Banner-Tribune Following Governor John Bel Edwards’ easing of restrictions on Louisiana businesses as of May 1, business operations statewide have resumed, but with certain provisions. According to Edwards’ executive order, “essential businesses” as defined by the federal government, restaurants but only with outdoor, server-less dining, shopping malls with curbside pick-up only, and non-essential retail and “grey area” businesses are per- mitted to resume operations. However, all employees of the businesses who deal with the public must wear masks, and there can be no more than 10 peo- ple in an establishment at a time. This means that more local businesses have been able to begin the process of getting back to work. Nelvin Coleman, owner of Nelvin’s Creations, a party supply and rental shop at 605 Main St., Franklin, said she is taking it day by day. “I mask up and stay at a distance,” Coleman said, “I closed in the middle of March, and I am barely open right now, off and on. I try not to make it an everyday thing. “Everybody else has been closed, too. It’s just a hot mess.” Coleman said her business was located on Willow Street for its first six years, and that she has only been in operation at her Main Street location for the past year, where she reported experi- encing success until the pandemic crisis hit Louisiana. “I was really enjoying it,” she said, “and just getting the hang of things. I really didn’t want to close down because I like what I do.” As for the future, Coleman said she intends to just wait and see if her holiday traffic can bring some semblance of normalcy back to her business. Nelvin Coleman, Nelvin's Creations “The doors are open,” she implored. “I’m waiting for business. You dream it, and I’ll create it.” Another Main Street location that has gone back to work is Meyer’s Shoe Store, located at 617 Main St., Franklin, open since 1939, and closed to walk-in patronage from March 20 until April 29. Henry Friedman has owned Meyer’s Shoe Store since 1979 and said he has never seen anything like the recent statewide curtail- ing of retail operations. Since reopening, and as per the governor’s order, Friedman re- ported that he and his employees are maintaining a six-foot dis- tance between store personnel and customers; all employees are wearing masks when around customers; shoe fittings have had to be discontinued due to contact restrictions; customers are re- quired to bring their own socks if they want to try on shoes; and with an eight-customer limit in-store at-a-time, only two mem- bers per group or family are allowed in. Monday through Friday, business hours are only different by 30 minutes, taking the original 9:30 to 5:30 hours down to 9:30 to 5 p.m., with Saturday’s original 9:30 to 3 p.m. hours staying the same. “I don’t know what the future is going to hold,” Friedman said. “I don’t think I could have gone any farther without reopening. And, if things get bad again, that’ll probably be the end of my business. If there is another big uptick with the virus, and we have to close again for any period of time, I don’t think my busi- ness can survive it. Small businesses like this can’t survive being closed for two months. It’s impossible. I can’t figure any way it would work.” As things stand, and without a dreaded second operational hia- Henry Friedman, Meyer's Shoe Store tus, Friedman stated that he thinks Meyer’s Shoe Store will be able to slog it out until all restrictions are lifted. He thanked the local community for their support following the store’s reopening, “We’ve had a good response. People are spend- ing their stimulus money, and we hope to continue to serve the community, so ‘thank you’ to the community. We really appreciate the support.” Marnie Vaughan, owner of Bargain Barn and Bargain Barn Too, located at 218 Yokley Road and 720 Main St. respectively, tells a different story than that of necessary woe and want. “We are following the governor’s guidelines since reopening,” Vaughan said. “What we did was go to strictly online business. We really didn’t shut down. We just did our business all online, and we did really well. “I don’t have any overhead. I own everything. So, it really wasn’t a hardship (having to close store sites). It’s just me and my sister, and our husbands both have jobs, so this (Bargain Barn and Bargain Barn Too) is just a hobby, more than anything.” Vaughan went on to say that though she hasn’t seen the kind of foot traffic at her store sites that she would like to see, she is not worried. She believes patrons are waiting for the stay-at-home order to be lifted by the governor on May 15. “From my point of view,” she said. “I think everybody just took a break, and learned to stay home and be with their family. It’s like everybody took a time-out. People are going to come back. People are going to shop. “I think business is going to spring back. I don’t think it’s going to be detrimental (the shutdown). “It’s all good.” Vaughan closed by saying, “If we all just follow the rules, and come shop, everybody will take care of everybody. We are all in this together and we’ll all get out of it together.” Marnie Vaughn, Bargain Barn and Bargain Barn Too 86 YEARS STRONG IF IT’S NOT IN STOCK MIKE LAPEYROUSE, CHUCK AUTIN, JEANNE L. CLEMENT, WE CAN GET IT! KYLE CLEMENT, DAVID LAPEYROUSE WWW.LAPEYROUSE.COM / 337-276-4541 / 800-516-7000 1105 MAIN ST. (HWY. 182), JEANERETTE Page 2, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Obituaries ALEENE RITA son Hunter (who Maw- devoted son, Tyrone Coo- pone events with 10 or Street Franklin, La. from pone events with 10 or DURIO LACOMBE Maw named!); Nicholaus per of Morgan City, La.; more people, and state 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. A private more people, and state Mendoza and Kelly; Jes- one grandchild, Brittany officials imploring people service will be held. Buri- officials imploring peo- se Mendoza and wife (Jeanee) Blackwell Simp- to stay home and limit al will be in the Naza- ple to stay home and Maegan and children son; three great-grand- social interaction. A pri- rene Baptist Church limit social interaction. Hayden, Evyn, Adelyn, children Jamri, Mila and vate service will be held. Cemetery in Verdunville, A private service will be Anistyn and Ryn; Katie Justice all of Lafayette, Burial will be in the Mor- La. Services will be ac- held. Burial will be in Mendoza and fiancé Nick La.; stepchildren, Mi- gan City Cemetery - St. cessible by viewing the the Little Zion Church “C”, Seppe Pusateri and chael Wayne Cooper, Jr., Anthony Society Area in Jones Funeral Home, Cemetery Verdunville, Kourtney and daughters Stephanie Cooper-Silas, Morgan City, La. Dis- Inc. Facebook Page at La. Graveside Services Charlee, Emerie and Ez- Jacqueline Cooper, and missal Services will be the time of services. will be accessible by ra; Gionni Pusateri and Danny Cooper as well as accessible by viewing the Jones Funeral Home of viewing the Jones Fu- Whitney and sons James Vasbert Ledger, Kayla Jones Funeral Home, Morgan City-Frank- neral Home, Inc. Face- August 24, 1923 – May and Luca; Maria Pu- Robert and Jovani Ed- Inc. Facebook Page at lin-Houma-Jeanerette in book Page at the time of 7, 2020 sateri Tyler and her hus- ward of Lafayette, La.; the time of services. charge of arrangements. services. Aleene Rita Durio La- band Lance and daugh- one loving sister, Ruby Jones Funeral Home of Visit www.jones-funer- Jones Funeral Home Combe passed away ter Camille; and Bella (Joseph) Hebert Sr. of Morgan City-Hou- al-home.com to send con- of Morgan City-Frank- peacefully on May 7, Pusateri and fiancé Morgan City, La. She will ma-Jeanerette-Franklin dolences to family. lin-Jeanerette-Houma in 2020 at her apartment in Dylan. be dearly missed and for- in charge of arrange- charge of arrangements. Lafayette, Louisiana, “Let your spirit fly ever remain in the hearts ments. CLYDE JOHNSON Visit www.jones-funer- surrounded by family. high Momma, as you joy- of her family and friends. Visit www.jones-funer- Clyde Johnson, 52, a al-home.com to send con- Aleene was born in ously reunite with our Jane was preceded in al-home.com to send con- resident of Franklin, La. dolences to family. Jackson, Mississippi on Lord and your loved ones death by her husband, dolences to family. and native of Bayou Sale, August 24, 1923, and in heavenly peace.” Michael Cooper Sr.; her La., passed away peace- RAYMOND AUGUST spent her childhood in Due to the recent parents, Jane B.