GREENWOOD, Mo. — More relief could be on its way to struggling small businesses as Congress debates another stimulus package. Meanwhile, some small businesses, including in the antique shop district of Greenwood, Missouri, have had to shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.
"There’s so many of us out there that are in need,” said Kris Bybee, owner of As Time Goes By, one of six antique stores in the city that sits roughly 30 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri.
Bybee has owned the store for more than nine years and never thought she would have to close under these circumstances.
"That was hard,” Bybee said. “In fact, I’m getting emotional all over again, because it’s hard to walk away from your shop. It’s hard to shutter your doors.”
All of the antique store owners in Greenwood are close to one another, so when they all closed, there was a void. Heather McCarty, owner of The Porch Swing, said that the store owners are like a “second family.”
"Having to say goodbye to them and shut down, yeah, was very emotional,” McCarty said.
Vanessa Fahle, owner of The Greenwood Country Tearoom, said the closures are cause for concern.
"If it goes on too much longer, it’s worrisome,” she said, “not just for me but the entire district here.”
Each of them applied for some sort of financial relief within hours of the national program starting, only to be turned away – so far.
"It grows harder and harder, I would say, emotionally and financially,” McCarty said. “I had went through the website, with SBA and got that filled out and submitted and it’s been silence. I haven’t heard anything one way or another.”
Fahle applied for an economic disaster relief loan and has been left in limbo.
"All we got back from them was that we submitted the application and then silence and then nothing,” Fahle said, “and then once you do that, you can’t do PPP (Paycheck Protection Program).”
It’s some money they see going to multi-million or sometimes billion dollar businesses, instead.
"As a small business owner, it’s hurtful,” said Bybee.
They hope the new stimulus bill will actually help them because the town loves its antiques – they just don't want to be history.
"I don’t know what the future for The Porch Swing holds,” McCarty said.
Many of the businesses 41 Action News spoke with want Jackson County to do away with the stipulation that prevents pick-up orders for non-essential businesses. Right now, they can only sell products online, which some stores do not have set up.
