Weekly Post Seven
Small businesses are essential to the community. Not only do they allow travelers to have a unique visit, but they also make a city feel like home for many residents. The bar and restaurant industry has been hit hard because of COVID-19 and the restrictions set in place. The ‘Safer at Home’ policy was set in place for Colorado’s restaurants to keep communities and travelers safe. Bars and restaurants have been set to a 50% cap on their occupancy and a six-foot minimum for table placements in order to keep social distancing.
One particular small business in Greeley has been working hard to keep their business thriving while taking precautions in order to keep the community they care so much about safe. A small Irish themed pub by the name of Patrick’s is a homey and lively bar with a welcoming atmosphere. During the pandemic, they rearranged all indoor seating and created a space outdoors to maintain social distancing. The owners, Abbey and Greg Farnsworth, have taken all precautions necessary to make sure they are able to successfully run their business while creating a safe environment for their staff and customers. They care about the safety of others as much as they care about their business.
With this project, I will focus on the bar Patrick’s and find out how they have been affected by COVID-19. Through interviews, I will get first-hand knowledge of exactly what the business has done in order to continue to run successfully. By visiting the business during open and closed hours I will be able to see how the bar is run and get photographs and videos in order to make my project interesting and stand out. I will be using media outlets such as Facebook in order to share with an audience. Facebook creates a platform in which I can share photos and videos, along with the story itself. The media platform works for this specific audience because Patrick’s typically attracts an older (late 20s-30s) crowd, and that is the average age group for those most active on Facebook. I am currently working on the setup for this story in the way I will tell it. I have interviewed one of the owners and have plans set in place to get photos and videos in the bar. The story itself will be arranged as a feature story to inform others about the business and owners, and how it has been affected by COVID-19 physically and financially. A feature story will give me the opportunity to keep the story specific to the bar itself.
I am passionate about this particular project because I love my community and want to help share as much information as I can on the small businesses in Greeley. I would also love to promote local businesses and help friends succeed with their own businesses. Small businesses are an asset to many towns and cities and residents must continue to support them, especially during a pandemic (while staying safe of course).
