Mitch Grove, VP AG Loan officer at Worden’s Stockman Bank opens the doors to their lobby for customers as all Stockman Bank lobbies opened back up after the COVID-19 shutdown. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
It will be some time before the full consequences of the economic shut down will be known, but for most businesses and their customers, the opening of business on Monday was a welcome relief.
Although not all, most businesses in Yellowstone County have been able to reopen with the Governor’s partial lifting of restrictions which required that all but essential businesses close, in the hope of imposing social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19. There will undoubtedly be some that will never again open, and some which will struggle and fail within the next year or 18 months.
Restaurants and bars were allowed to open for dine-in services at half capacity, instituting social distancing and sanitizing protocols as set by Governor Steve Bullock.
Of some 540 food and drink establishments in Yellowstone County, 436 had submitted required plans and received official permission to open from County Health Officer John Felton. Operating at half capacity is required so that there is adequate space between tables for social distancing. No one is allowed to sit at bars – alcoholic beverages can only be served to tables.
Visitors at Cowboy’s Bar & Restaurant in downtown Huntley show their patronage as the restaurant opens up after the COVID-19 shutdown. Here, their newly spaced dining area is displayed as tables and spacing is now greater due to the Covid-19 guidelines put out by Yellowstone County Health offices. One week before opening up to the masses, Cowboys received their approval from the County Health Department to Open up on May 4, 2020. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)
Reid Pyburn, co-owner and manager of the High Horse Saloon & Eatery in Billings, said that the first two days of business were busy. “People are anxious to get back to their habits and routines. The weather was nice and many had a pocket full of money,” he said.
Pyburn said that he felt fortunate to have enough square footage to be able to space out tables and casino machines, enough to efficiently operate at half capacity. “I can keep a lot of tables in play and space the poker machines around. Some people have had to keep some machines out of service.”
Some establishment owners have said that they were not going to open until they could open at full capacity.
Pyburn said that he had heard that others were not going to open until later in the week. “Some places are just now getting employees back,” he said, “and they are spending a bunch of money to bring in inventory and bring staff up to speed.”
Pyburn further stated, “It is good to be open, but it is not over yet.” He said now they have to worry about food shortages and disruptions in distribution systems delivering food and other supplies. He added, “I hope the people keep coming out and the number of cases go down, as well.”
Greg and Jo Oblander picking up their food in Shepherd at the Cowboys Bar & Restaurant catering unit on Friday May 1. Even though the restaurant opened up this week on Monday, May 4, the catering unit for Cowboys will be at five corners during the summer time. (Photo by Jonathan McNiven)
Other businesses have announced re-openings. Stockman Bank sent out a press release announcing that the lobbies of their banks will be reopened as of Monday, May 4th, the same day restaurants and bars are able to open.
After having been closed for two weeks, Rimrock Mall announced that they are open, as are most other retail businesses and other financial and service businesses. Hospitals announced the resumption of scheduling elective procedures following special protocols to maintain distancing and processes for the protection of patients and medical staff.
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