It’s a ‘new normal’ for Red Oak businesses amid COVID-19 crisis

Tess Nelson

The Red Oak Express

It’s impossible to find a business that hasn’t been affected by the COVID-19 virus. While some Red Oak businesses have temporarily closed, others have seen an uptick in business. Still other businesses are tying to navigate a ‘new normal.’

On Thursday, March 26, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds extended a previous mandate closing restaurants and bars, fitness centers, swimming pools, salons, barber shops, medical spas, tanning facilities, tattoo establishments, massage therapy establishments, theatres, casinos and gaming facilities, senior citizen centers, mass gatherings or 10 of more people, as well as bookstores, clothing stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores, luggage stores, florists, beauty stores, and home furnishing stores to the general public until midnight on April 7.

“As far as the Five One 8 goes with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are closed and had to cancel and postpone events through April 18 currently,” said Phillip Lamb, owner/operator of the Five One 8. “Other events are on our calendar; we will decide those at a later date.”

Dave McFarland, Montgomery County Historical Museum’s director, said they are following the governor’s guidelines. Additionally, McFarland said the Senior Center next door is closed until further notice.

“It is ironic that we are repeating history ... exactly 100 years ago we were facing the Spanish Flu. History is repeating itself; same problems all over again,” commented McFarland. “Sometimes making history is a painful process.”

Business has increased at Red Oak Fabrication due to other vendors shutting down, said Jordan Fort, Red Oak Fabrication sales director.

“We are conducting business as usual here. Only exception is no walk in customers without prior notice,” Fort said.

State Farm Insurance Agent Dave Carbaugh commented it was business as usual, except he and his employees are working remotely from their homes.

“I’m working from the den in my house and I have a team member in every corner of the county,” said Carbaugh. “We are still accessible through the phone and email.”

The biggest challenge, said Carbaugh, was client security through the internet when working from home remotely and the fact the business has quite a bit of walk-in traffic.

“Thursdays hail storm was a challenge; right in the middle of when we were locking down. Friday alone we processed 53 claims, just in-house. Doing that under normal circumstances` is challenging, but add the new normal to it …”

Jill O’Neal, owner of J Mercantile said despite her door being closed to the public, people are still able to shop using the website, Instagram, email and Facebook.

“We are going to reach out on social media platforms to keep in touch with people,” said O’Neal.

Those interested in purchasing an item shown on social media can contact O’Neal and she will even deliver it, for free, if in Red Oak or bring it out to their vehicle curbside.

As for O’Neal’s other business, LOCAL, a rotating retail experience, they are temporarily closed as well.

“We have put contracts on hold for LOCAL. Once everything has been lifted and people are able to submit contracts again, we will let everybody know,” said O’Neal.

In a similar situation, Michelle Pruss of White Sparrow has also temporarily closed. However, shopping is available online and on Facebook.

Dr. Kimberly Truka, DDA at Dental Care PC said they can only see emergency patients.

“I listen to messages on the answering machine to see if there are any emergencies,” Truka said.

She added she has to temporarily lay off the employees.