Quiet beaches and a lack of spring breakers could mean a big hit to businesses dependent on seasonal services.
"We don't know what we need to do for our company at this point,” Vincent Shay, owner of Avila Beach Paddlesports, said.
He doesn’t have an answer to the million-dollar question: “What are we going to do?”
“We're really reliant on certain breaks, and spring break is a big one. It's pretty obvious we're not going to have a spring break this year,” Shay said. “We don't know how long this will last, and the summer could be a complete bust for us as well, which would be a huge bummer."
It's not just companies like Avila Beach Paddlesports that will be affected; the employees that rely on seasonal work, like college students, are likely to see little opportunity.
“Do we invest money into seasonal help? Train them and get them ready for the summer? Or do we just step back and see what happens?” Shay questioned. “It's a bummer for the workforce. The businesses aren't getting affected only; it's also the seasonal help that we rely on. It's very important to us."
The unknown, and any mandated orders, are forcing Shay’s hand to close during one of the store’s busiest seasons.
"It's the strangest thing I've ever seen. I know that people have it probably a lot worse than Avila Beach Paddlesports,” Shay said. “We made a decision Monday to put a stop to it. We actually started getting cancellations and a lot of emails and concerns on what we're doing for our equipment to sanitize.”
At this point in time, Shay says the only thing he can do with his company is wait.
"We're a service destination, Avila Beach and the whole Central Coast,” Shay said. “We're all probably going to be affected about the same. Only time will tell."
