It’s called the new normal.
What is it? What will it look like? Is it already upon us?
These and related questions are on everyone’s lips. But the reality is, many public groups, schools, and other institutions have already changed their modus operandi, switching over to remote conferencing and other operations likely to carry over post-pandemic.
The Peninsula Beacon surveyed a representative cross-section of small businesses and individuals in the community to get their take on if – or how – things will be different moving forward.
“It’s a mess, just a rat’s race to figure out what’s going on,” is how Brett Murphy, owner of La Jolla Sports Club at 7825 Fay Ave., which has been shuttered since mid-March, summarized the pandemic “pause,” and efforts of small businesses like his to secure government stimulus funding. “The wait times are ungodly on the phone calls,” he added.
Acknowledging he’s “remained positive” during the six weeks his fitness center has been shuttered as non-essential, Murphy has been busy setting up a food bank to help his laid-off employees. He’s also getting around to doing some fix-its in his fitness facility.
With the coronavirus situation changing daily, Murphy said intimations are he may be allowed to re-open July 1. But he noted, even what his exact operating conditions will be like for reopening, are uncertain.
“We have no clue,” Murphy said. “We’re being told people in gyms may have to wear masks and gloves, and that we may have to temperature check everyone who walks in the door and provide six-feet of distancing.”
Murphy’s also being told it’s possible he may have to take 20- to 30-minute breaks periodically to sanitize things.
Given the uncertainties, Murphy’s certain of one thing. “What I’m going to do is make my club the safest and cleanest you could possibly work out at,” he noted.
“We fully expect that things will slowly emerge and improve,” said an upbeat Denny Knox, executive director of Ocean Beach MainStreet Association. “Many of our businesses have been very creative in trying to market a portion of their business model. I’m hopeful that the public will want to support their favorite small businesses because they realize that their support will mean the difference in the long run.”
Added Knox: “If you just love a business in OB, make sure you post great things about that business, recommend that business to your friends, and shop there as often as possible. Anything is possible when a whole community, like Ocean Beach, comes together to make it thrive.”
Mission Beach small-business owner Greg Knight, who owns San Diego Kids Party Rentals, said the coronavirus pause has left him temporarily practically dead in the water.
“Last year in April we did $145,000 in sales,” Knight said. “This year in April, I did $280.”
Knight said it’s obvious he’s going to have to drastically change aspects of his business model, which includes lots of bounce houses for kids that he has warehoused.
“We have to figure out how we do social distancing in them,” Knight said. “Maybe do things like having only one kid in at a time.”
Knight’s studying the feasibility of steam cleaning his bounce houses to ensure they’re safe and sanitized.
Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell, whose district includes the Peninsula and Pacific and Mission beaches, said the new normal will be with everyone for the foreseeable future.
“This pandemic will have a multitude of impacts over the coming weeks, months, and years,” she said. “I believe wearing masks will be a part of our lives when out and about to protect each other. I also believe that we’ll see folks ordering more take-out to support local restaurants over the coming months, rather than eating out once they’re allowed to open.”
Added Campbell: “However, as chair of the (City Council) Environment Committee, I do believe that there will be some real permanent benefits from the way people have changed their lives during this time. For instance, I believe we will see working from home become far more common than before, helping us decrease our emissions and increase job satisfaction from less commuting. “I also hope that people continue to walk, bike, and run more than they did before Covid-19 came to San Diego. Finally, I hope that the sense of community San Diegans have built, with neighbors running errands for each other, people checking in on each other more, continues once this time is in the rear-view mirror.”
Several individuals in the Peninsula gave their take and what they expect from the new normal.
“I think some of our mom-and-pop shops are going to do fine once things get back up and running,” said Andrea Schlageter, chair of Ocean Beach Planning Group. “There are ones that have really stepped up to help our communities and be a strong presence right now, and the community has in-kind supported them with their dollars. I think the biggest holes in our main street are going to be all the shops that cater almost exclusively to selling San Diego T-shirts and cheap sunglasses.” 
“Nobody knows what the future holds,” said City Attorney candidate Cory Briggs. “What I know today is that San Diegans are resilient, resourceful, and generous. Whatever comes, I’m sure we’ll be a role model for others.”
“I have seen the communities of Point Loma, Midway, and Ocean Beach come together strong to support our local small mom-and-pop businesses and each other in their own streets as neighbors,” said Peninsula community planner Margaret Virissimo. “It will be a little bit more challenging for just a few more months. However, the strong community support and love we have for one another will kill the virus. In the meantime, do your part to help the economy in your own communities by shopping local and with small businesses. Let’s open up soon.”
“Zoom meetings, working at home, spacing and additional sanitation may be more of the new norm,” predicted Robert Tripp Jackson, a broker with Catalina Realty. “Caravans and open houses will resume once this calms. The City, businesses, and property owners need to do their part with sanitizing efforts, due to the long surface life of Covid-19. This will be super important to minimize illness and the spread.”