Here’s how the first Saturday in Fresno under the shelter-in-place order went
The first Saturday in Fresno under the state shelter-in-place ordinance showed the city didn’t become a ghost town, but there weren’t any crowds, either.
Highway 41 as it heads north toward River Park Shopping Center was noticeably thin early Saturday.
Anyone deciding to risk coronavirus exposure for a shopping trip wouldn’t have much luck at one of the city’s largest shopping destinations as sprawling stores like Kohl’s and Old Navy weren’t doing business.
Best Buy was selling items only through curbside pickup, where employees in neon vests, masks and gloves brought electronics through the front doors and loaded them into cars waiting outside.
The 22 screens at Edwards Theater were also behind locked doors.
The city of Fresno issued its order on Wednesday, a day before Gov Gavin Newsom asked the state’s 40 million residents to stay home to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, also called COVID-19. Essential services like grocery stores and law enforcement continues, but everyone was asked to only leave their homes for essential trips.
Fashion Fair mall’s doors were locked and the parking lot almost entirely empty. Restaurants like nearby BJ’s used makeshift barriers to direct drivers in their cars to wait in line for takeout while preventing people to gather.
That’s not to say everyone stayed home. Parking lots around Target or anywhere selling groceries showed many more full parking spaces than clothing stores.
Open-air markets
River Park’s farmers market was selling only the essentials, like produce and baked goods, according to Peter De Young, the executive director of the California Fresh Farmers Market Association.
The market takes EBT (traditionally called food stamps) and WIC (benefits for women and children) so it’s an essential place for many low-income families, he said. The market asked nonessential market-goers like musicians and crafts sellers to sit this one out.
“We’ve switched from a fun event to go to, to a community service,” he said. “We take that role very seriously.”
The market is following the recommendations of health officials and has added stations so people can wash their hands, De Young said.
“People here have responded on social media very positively,” he said. “They know the social distancing thing is very important.”
Other open-air markets were open, too. At Cherry Auction just south of Fresno, co-owner Neil Brunson said the usually hopping Saturday crowd looked more like a “rained out Tuesday” showing. It also drizzled sporadically on Saturday.
“It’s a ton slower,” he said. “We’re real slow on vendors and shoppers.”
Fewer vendors meant it was easier to practice social distancing, Brunson said, and the auction added new cleaning protocols.
The punch the coronavirus delivered to the economy would certainly be a setback, but not insurmountable, he said. The auction has a number of employees who are working reduced hours, but who still need money to raise their children and pay the bills.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll get back to normal pretty quickly here,” he said. “We just have to work together.”
Canceled events
Before warning began coming down from health officials in early March, the weekend was scheduled to be a busy one.
Save Mart Center was supposed to host two days of professional bull riders but the dark building sat empty Friday and Saturday. The cowboys competing in the PBR Fresno Invitational are now set to be here in August.
Fresno State’s softball team, which is ranked No. 25 in the nation, did not play a series of home games against San Diego State as originally scheduled. The Bulldogs have not played a game since March 8 and the rest of the season (including a possible NCAA Tournament run into late May) has been canceled.
The annual block party for music and beer lovers FresYes Fest was set to bring a large crowd to downtown near the Tioga-Sequoia Beer Garden. The roughly 10 hours of food, music and pop-ups was postponed as fears surrounding coronavirus increased.
“We are working on staying positive during this crazy time and seeing our van delivering (Tioga-Sequoia) beer to your door has definitely been putting a smile on our face,” the brewery wrote in a Facebook post.
Tioga joined Full Circle Brewing in selling their beers to go and even offering to deliver. Pubs like Goldstein’s Mortuary and Delicatessen and Spokeasy Public House also filled growlers or sold beer from their fridge for anyone looking to bring a little normalcy to their sheltered homes.
The postponement of FresYes was difficult news for food truck operators who are just now coming out of winter, according to Debbi Chacon, who owns The Gastro Grill Food Truck and Chacon’s Catering.
“After a long winter, we definitely plan that event to bring in a good amount of money,” she said in a text message. “... I think I can speak for most food trucks, we were planning for that income. We do very well at FresYes and typically sell out a couple hours early.”
Food trucks may be made for takeout, which are the only food sales allowed at restaurants right now, but they also thrive in social settings, she said. Planners of concerts, weddings and company gatherings are canceling previously planned events that called for food trucks.
Chacon said she was happy to be in good health, and felt bad for those less fortunate during the outbreak.
“We absolutely are very concerned. Aside from this being our sole income now, it’s a bit scary,” she said. “But we truly have faith and won’t panic.”
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 3:36 PM.
