Pandemic challenges: Trying to open a new business
Photo | Courtesy of Rushford & Sons Brewhouse
(From left) Mike Rushford, Brian Goodman and Eric Martin at Rushford & Sons Brewhouse
Since March 2020, the Central Massachusetts business community has found various ways to adapt and thrive to the coronavirus pandemic.
With business restrictions surrounding the coronavirus now lifted, three business leaders from Fitchburg, Upton and Millbury discuss the special challenges they faced in overcoming the extra hurdle of starting a new business during the pandemic.
Pivoting in Upton
There is a challenge in running a business in a COVID-free world, it is also a different challenge during a pandemic. Brian Goodman, manager of Rushford & Sons Brewhouse in Upton, said they were starting their process of getting their business ready to open when the pandemic hit. The brewhouse was meant to open early fall 2020, but ended up opening in November. He had no idea of when things were going to continue or change.
“It has definitely been a challenge trying to pivot our business plan midway when everything kind of hit” Goodman said.
The opening of the brewery for a long time focused on when COVID restrictions would be lifted.
“With a new business, accessing capital and fundings and all that has also been a struggle. So trying to get that capital and expand the business takes time in order to operate and this has been one of our biggest challenges,” he said.
Goodman added the opening of the beer garden will be soon and as long as the weather stays nice it will be very helpful.
Finding the light at the end of the tunnel
Penny Pinchers Brewing Co. in Millbury secured its brewing license in 2019 and planned to open in February 2020. However, coronavirus had other plans as construction came to a halt, everything closed down, and the owners had no choice but to shut down. The only option they had was to stay open as a restaurant, even though the initial plan was to start a brewing business.
“Throughout the whole pandemic, we really just followed the guidance from the state so you know. I mean whatever recommendations they have made, a lot of it is mandated and we have to do it as a business. We are going to follow the state restrictions, stick with them and then implement them,” Jay Rondeau, co-owner and head brewer, said.
Rondeau said the pandemic was definitely a teacher of patience because in the beginning there was a rush to prepare everything and have an opening. The pandemic slowed these processes down, so the owners had to be readjust and be flexible too with their decisions.
“Going forward we are going back to our original business model, we see the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully at some point we will also be able to go back to our normal routine, he said.
Rondeau expressed his gratitude toward the Town of Millbury and its support for his business. The decision to open a brewery to be a part of the community, even in the pandemic, the support the owners received was very humbling.
“The people that run the town, the people that live in the town, have been so great to us, making sure to come out and support us even in the middle of a pandemic,” he said. “We are very proud to be part of this community.”
Ready to welcome the crowds
Elmer Melendez, owner of Dario’s Ristorante and the soon-to-open Tequila Tacos in Fitchburg, said his decision was to either stay in the pandemic or work around it. Pre-pandemic, he made sure his restaurant was always clean and sanitized, so it was following a tradition when the state mandated the rules.
“The way we run my restaurant, we are very clean. We were already sanitizing before the pandemic, and I’m so grateful that none of my employees got sick or anything,” Melendez said.
He said the only difference was wearing a mask and staying six feet apart.
Melendez, who is working on opening a new restaurant Tacos Tequila this summer, shared the support he has received from the state. He said the only challenges he faced in planning the opening are construction-based issues.
He looks forward to having a successful business and is very excited to welcome residents from all over Massachusetts in his restaurant.
“The people are ready, the city is ready and we have to take risks. I don’t gamble, but I run a restaurant. So I know how risky it may seem, but I believe that I’m going to have a successful restaurant that welcomes people” Melendez said.
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