Mixed bag of plans to reopen Bigfork businesses

Bigfork businesses are heading into uncharted waters due to Governor Steve Bullock’s new guidance on reopening the state. Local businesses ranging from bars to hair salons are now navigating new guidelines aimed at stimulating the economy while keeping people safe.

The Parlor Salon and Spa was one of the first businesses to reopen in the Bigfork area on Monday, April 27. Salons, massage centers and retail businesses were allowed to start to reopen Monday after being shut down for weeks due to COVID-19.

Josie Boucher, the owner of The Parlor, adjusted the salon’s hours to open up an hour earlier than normal on Monday morning in order to handle the influx of customers arriving for their long-awaited haircuts.

“We’re trying to make adjustments that better fit our clients,” Boucher said.

She said her top priority in reopening is supporting these loyal customers, rather than jump-starting the salon’s revenue stream. She said The Parlor has fortunately been sustained by gift card purchases and product package sales during the closure.

“We tried to keep engaging with our clients,” by checking in over the phone and using social media to stay connected, Boucher added.

But once word got out that the salon would be back in business, Boucher said there was a “huge response.” As soon as Bullock announced plans for the first phase of reopening, Boucher said she received 32 voicemail messages from clients hoping to get into the salon right away.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” she confessed.

Given this demand, Boucher said she and her crew have made a point of doing their best to prioritize the clients who have been “most affected” by the business closures. She pointed out her clients book their appointments months in advance, so plenty of regular customers have been unaffected by the shutdown. Some of these people have even called Boucher to offer their appointment slots to other clients who might need to be scheduled more urgently.

But even with the green light to reopen, Boucher was cognizant of the inherent risks of performing hair and nail treatments up close during a pandemic.

Since The Parlor is a small salon, Boucher wasn’t overly concerned about the area becoming too crowded. She pointed out The Parlor only employs three technicians at once, so it would be unlikely for them to go over the limit of ten people in a space at a time.

To be extra cautious, they are asking clients to wait for service in their cars, and they have rearranged their stations to be six feet apart. The technicians are also wearing face masks and encouraging their visitors to do the same.

Other Bigfork businesses didn’t have the option to decide whether to reopen. Bullock’s phased approach to reopening requires many establishments to remain closed for the time being, including gyms and bowling centers.

Montana Athletic Club is one Bigfork business that will be kept closed at first. Gym owner Doug Mahlum said he “was not really surprised” that gyms were left out of the first wave of reopening, although he admitted he was “a bit disappointed.”

“Fitness Centers are, by definition, hard to keep social distancing functions in effect,” he noted. But he also pointed out, “fitness is needed for everyone, as well as the social component of being in a healthy place, both physically and mentally.”

He noted eradicating the virus is a major component of keeping local athletes healthy. “We do need to make very sure we have kicked this virus to the curb before we get back to normal. Another outbreak would set us back even further,” he said.

In the meantime, Montana Athletic Club has stopped collecting dues, even for members who have requested they be able to pay during the closure. They have also started offering free online workouts for anyone in the Bigfork community.

Without member dues coming in, MAC is depending on the Payment Protection Program and support from Glacier Bank to keep the gym afloat. Their employees have been furloughed, but Mahlum insisted, “We will be bringing them back as soon as we are able to open.”

And with the gym empty, Mahlum said the management has been focusing on “sprucing up the place” with new flooring, paint and equipment, as well as implementing high-tech sanitation measures. When MAC reopens, they will be using electrostatic foggers and UV disinfection lights for the floors and mats. They will also limit the number of people allowed in the gym and take members’ temperatures before they are allowed to enter.

Mahlum promised, “We are more than ready to get back to work and provide the finest experience possible to the community of Bigfork.” ■