Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 31 M AY 1 8 , 2 0 2 0 S M A L L B U S I N E S S really hard," he says. His three businesses are the type that could pivot to delivery and pickup. He still isn't sure how they'll look on the other side of things. "e farthest I can see, the farthest I dare to plan, is about a month out." Strange new world Elena and Ben Metzger have owned Print Bangor, at 80 Central St. in downtown Bangor, for five years. "We're known for our wide-format printing," she says, the kind used for blueprints and plans. "at's our bread and butter." It helps that the shop is next to WBRC Architects. e pandemic hasn't slowed that business — Metzger expects that'll hit later — but there's been another change. "We're getting a lot of new customers," she says. "We're expanding into some weird areas." Before, with regular customers who had consistent needs, she could predict what was coming. "I knew who was going to need mailers, who needed signage." Now the shop is printing labels for carry-out drinks, stickers for floors and temporary signs spelling out safety measures. Metzger's following the news, trying to predict what new product they'll be making next. e shop has nine employees, and she's maintained staff thanks to a PPP loan. Employees who don't work at home stay in desig- nated work areas and wear masks. All pickup is curbside. ey've changed in other ways, too. e shop, which traditionally used old-school word-of-mouth marketing has spruced up its website and Facebook page, expanding its reach. Metzger even found herself networking with a print shop owner in South Dakota recently. She's sought support from the regional Small Business Development Center, something she strongly recommends to other businesses. "My advisor says, 'Just keep moving.' You have to keep moving to survive," she says. Metzger is proud the shop is open, and helping out. "ere's definitely a community vibe of wanting to support local businesses," she says. "We're all sup- porting each other." Big restaurant reopening small Jonathan's in Ogunquit is one of Maine's larger res- taurants, with seating for 240 in the dining room, and another 240 in the concert room. When it reopens June 4, most of those seats won't be there. "We've taken out 60% of our tables and chairs in the dining room," says owner Jonathan West. Comedian Bob Marley will perform June 5 before 50 people, not a packed room, since 80% of the seats in that room are also gone. e restaurant's homepage has a detailed list of measures being taken to meet safe opening guidelines. Find a Maine credit union near you at mainecreditunions.org Maine's credit unions are here for you. Having a strong financial partner that knows the value a small business has on it's community is important. Maine credit unions are focused on helping to keep your doors open by providing the support you need today and in the future. West has worked hard to do what's been asked, but he's not happy about it. e restaurant closes in January and February, though it hosts functions in those months, and typically reopens in mid-March. Typically, but not this year. "e government wouldn't let us," he says. He doesn't discount the seriousness of the virus or the pandemic. But he's frustrated that other kinds of businesses, par- ticularly big box stores, are open and full of customers. West, the Maine Restaurant Association's 2017 Restaurateur of the Year, holds his restaurant to high standards. "We don't have ketchup bottles on the table," he says. Table linens are changed after each meal. He sees cus- tomers in stores feeling fruit and vegetables, then putting them back. "No one's touching our broccoli or peaches but us, and I trust my staff to do it safely," he says. He's anxious and ready to open. "I'm following the guidelines they have now, and hope they don't change. If there are more outbreaks, shut Walmart down, not Main Street." M a u r e e n M i l l i k e n , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t m m i l l i k e n @ m a i n e b i z . b i z F O C U S P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F J O N AT H A N ' S Jonathan West Jonathan West, owner of , owner of Jonathan's Jonathan's in Ogunquit in Ogunquit

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