“Then we were able to finally get open, the day after the shutdown."
Gabe Ferguson owns Sunnyboy Biscuit Company in Hillcrest, and that's right; after months of transforming the space where Park Boulevard, Robinson Avenue and Indiana Street meet, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the shutdown of indoor dining.
“So we retooled the menu to be better at takeout only, and it’s gone really, really well," Ferguson said.
As with so many restaurant owners, Ferguson has expanded his outdoor dining space, which given San Diego, the weather is usually nice. Not no nice this week with record-breaking heat and humidity.
“On warmer days, sometimes people don’t like to get out, but we’ve definitely been putting in more umbrellas, trying to create more shade," he said.
If this miserable weather continues, Ferguson said he might take further measures.
“We might pull out some fans and some humidifier blowers, you know make it even more comfortable,” he said.
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London Nail Spa in Point Loma was finally able to move its business outside recently, but now the heat has added another challenge.
“The chemicals we use, like nail polish, it drys really fast, so it’s hard to work with,” said owner Cindy Phan.
Hot weather or not, Phan said, it’s just not as enjoyable of an experience getting nails and toes done outdoors, plus she and her husband have to get to work an hour earlier now to set up their outdoor operation.
She said she can deal with all that. She’s just grateful to be open once again after being closed for three months.
“I’m really thankful my customers come here and support us, you know, they treat us as a family,” Phan said.
Ferguson and Phan, just two business owners among the many thousands in San Diego County figuring out how to roll with the punches in the midst of a pandemic.
