Rebound

What’s the next move? What’s the right step? For small business owners looking to pivot and keep their businesses afloat those are just two of countless critical decisions that will mean the difference between survival or shuttering their doors for good. In our series ‘Rebound,’ we spotlight a handful of small business owners across the country dealt a crippling...

For Jeannine Cook, the proprietor of Harriet’s Bookshop in Philadelphia, concerns of late have gone beyond her bookstores survival and toward her own personal safety after receiving a slew of threatening emails.

Forced to shutter their doors when COVID-19 hit, small businesses across America were faced with a tough question: “How do we survive?” As shutdowns and restrictions continue to create hurdles for small business owners all over the country, there’s been no shortage of creativity. From a small local theater in New Hampshire streaming burlesque shows online, to a Brooklyn...

As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted in certain parts of New York state, Stratis and Robert grow frustrated with the government’s response to reopening indoor dining in New York City. Over in Philadelphia, Jeannine deals with a hateful e-mail from an anonymous bigot. Dwayne and Gabe prepare for a basketball tourney in Weston, Florida.

In an effort to improve revenue during COVID-19, Seacoast Repertory Theatre is making an unusual change: The struggling theater is putting on three shows at once instead of just one.

The Seacoast Repertory Theatre struggles financially as they pivot to small in-person and online performances, Luella’s Southern Kitchen deals with some changes to the supply chain and L.A. Dogworks discuss the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and how they are trying to find ways to stay afloat, keep their staff working and evolve.

Harriett’s Bookshop, Brooklyn Chop House and Next Step Training discuss being Black-owned businesses during the pandemic and trying to raise awareness about social justice.

Get to know the owners of Luella’s Southern Kitchen in Chicago, L.A. Dogworks in Los Angeles and the Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth, N.H., as they tell us about their struggles during COVID-19 and how they have been working hard to stay afloat.

Luella’s Southern Kitchen has never been a stranger to starting from scratch. In fact, the restaurant calls itself a “scratch kitchen.” “Everything’s homemade,” chef and owner Darnell Reed said. “Everything’s made from scratch.” And like in the kitchen, being in the midst of a pandemic has left many restaurants starting from the beginning. “When the pandemic started, we, our...

What’s the next move? What’s the right step? For each of us in the midst of a pandemic these are critical decisions. But to the small business owners looking to pivot and keep their businesses afloat those are just two of countless critical decisions that will mean the difference between survival or shuttering their doors for good.

A pandemic. A social justice movement. A nationwide call for change. Small businesses in America are operating during unprecedented times – but they aren’t letting COVID-19 stop them. How are they doing it?