New business owners glad they took risk
By ERIC SEIVERLING
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
Opening a small business can be a daunting task for entrepreneurs, even during the most normal of times.
Toss in a deadly, world-wide pandemic that’s forced the shutdown of businesses and put everybody’s lives on hold for most of 2020, and the idea of opening a new business can seem impossible.
Not to a few Monongahela business owners who decided to open their brick-and-mortar locations in the city’s business district on Main Street.
And while their businesses couldn’t be more different, each one said they don’t regret the decision to open their business during the time of COVID-19.
“It was actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be,” said Dr. Christa Peifer, who opened her CP DC Chiropractic and Wellness at 314 Main St. in October. “I love it. It was the best decision of my life.”
Peifer, a Carroll Township resident, said she originally had an office in Belle Vernon, but sometime during June or July, she decided to move her locale to Monongahela.
Peifer said she averaged three clients a day in Belle Vernon when COVID hit the area. Since moving to Monongahela, she said she averages 20 clients a day.
Peifer said her business thrives because of more people staying home because of the virus.
“Everyone has the aches and pains of sitting at a computer all day,” she said. “You still have to take the necessary precautions. We are wearing masks and disinfecting after every patient leaves.”
Peifer isn’t the only one to see a boom in business during the pandemic.
With more people staying home and isolated from family and friends, many are looking for companionship of the four-legged variety.
And that’s just fine for Norm Candelore, owner of full-service pet salon Candelore’s Barking Beauties at 1115 West Main St., which opened in July.
Candelore said his salon sees 140 dogs a day, and he has 20,000 clients across the Mon Valley.
Candelore stayed open during the first COVID shutdown in March, and doesn’t regret the decision. He said since he’s stayed open, his business is now booming.
“I’m not surprised; we have the best customers,” he said. “Because of the pandemic, more people have been getting dogs. There’s a lot more dogs at home, and they’re noticing they need cleaned more often.
“We weren’t classified as essential, which we should’ve been. In my opinion, I believe our business is essential … it’s not healthy to have a dirty dog around the house.”
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