Issue: February 03, 2022

The only economic certainty during the COVID-19 pandemic is change. Some businesses have shut their doors for good (including the beloved Maltese Bar & Tap Room, open for one more weekend of events—Feb. 4-5—before closing). Some have adapted to COVID safety measures, setting up outdoor parklet seating or offering curbside pickup. Others have used the downtime—and, in some cases, pandemic-relief monies—to start something different with hopes of coming out better on the other end.
For the CN&R’s 2022 Entrepreneur Issue, the focus isn’t on new ventures per se; rather, it’s about people who have made or soon will make big changes to how they do business—aka, reinvented themselves. Featured this year: a food truck that’s gone brick-and-mortar; a coffee shop/music venue made-over under new owners; a breakfast spot forced to move from its longtime home; a creative outlet turned dream job; two businesses joining a third in the same space; and two that have added second locations offering different experiences.
Things will likely continue to shake up as businesses adapt to a post-COVID reality. We hear about changes nearly every day, such as Music Connection soon moving across town into the old Bidwell Chapel funeral home on Third Street, and the owners of Momona announcing that the noodle/bao restaurant will relocate next fall into a much larger Main Street location.
Here’s hoping most of the changes are good, as we anticipate approaching something like normal in the year ahead.

Take care out there,

Jason Cassidy
CN&R Editor