Businesses pivot to survive while helping each other at the same time

BELLEVUE, Wash. — At Cafe Cesura in Bellevue, business is down about 80%.

The severe downturn has forced owner Shawn Nickerson to get creative.

“Honestly, I was sitting at the dining table with my girlfriend. And I’m sitting there like, ‘what can I do? What can I do? How can I support these other small business owners and how can I support myself too?’ Trying to come up with some ideas here,” explained Nickerson.

KIRO 7 was at Ballard’s last farmers market before its permit was pulled due to COVID-19. Though its attempting to reopen next Sunday, many farmers have had to come up with new ways to sell to their customers. That’s why Nickerson decided to open his cafe to displaced market vendors.

“I'm creating traffic that way. Then also I'm open every day from 7-3 so might as well have space available for them to sell to their customers as well,” Nickerson added.

Woodinville's Thao Farms is on board. Customers can preorder flowers and pick them up at Cafe Cesura on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Nickerson is also stocking his cafe with products from Bow Hill Blueberries from the Skagit Valley.

“We think that's a great idea to have the place where regular farmers market customers to go where they can get all their farmed product they're used to getting,” Soltes said.

Susan and Harley Soltes own the blueberry farm. The closures of the farmer's markets came just as they were expanding into more markets.

So with at least a 50% loss of revenue now, their farm is exploring business relationships like at Cafe Cesura, even opening a walk up window at the farm where people are encouraged to buy online first.

“So we're just trying to get some of that business back by having people pick up at the farm,” Soltes said.

The farm is also shipping more these days.

It's no doubt a tough time, but the Soltes are trying to inject some levity with virtual tastings.

By working together, they believe the community will come out stronger.

“It's patience and perseverance and sharing in new ways you haven't done before,” Soltes added.

“I think I biggest question is how long is this going to last and nobody really knows. We are all trying to do our part, stay safe,” Nickerson said.

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