Shopping in the Middle of the Coronavirus Shutdown
A DW story about Metro PHX: The State of Business Based on a Couple Hours of Shopping
The itinerary was pretty short. Fix my windshield. Get my vehicle emissions check so I can drive legally at the end of the month. And support our favorite local restaurant.
The Windshield
Shortly after moving to Arizona, I met with an insurance agent. He was from the Midwest, like me. As we went over the line items, I dozed off, er, I mean I listened as he went over my policy. In the end, he presented me with the windshield replacement option. “Nah” I stated…I don’t need that.
He looked me in the eye and said, if you are in this office, you trust me. Trust me when I say it will not be if, but when you will need a windshield replacement in Arizona. Stones are throughout the highway system; you will come to this office with a broken windshield.
I got the insurance, and sure enough, was in his office with a broken windshield probably about six months later. Since then, my family and I have probably have had about ten windshield replacements with one due to a wayward bathtub.
As the CDC moves the recommendation down to 10 in a crowd, and business is falling to lows that impact the paychecks of millions, I am here to report that there is no such issue in the glass replacement industry. Bookings were 100% full for three weeks.
I schedule the appointment…done.
The Emissions Test
If you are wondering, there are no long lines at the emissions center in Northwest Metro Phoenix. This could be because they have taken great lengths to move cars through faster; it could be that I hit the right day; the right time; it could be that I am one of the few people that think about getting my exhaust pipes checked as America self-quarantines due to the Coronavirus.
As I get out of my car, and the engine is revved up, and the exhaust goes into a tube…I wonder if these guys have the best job to avoid the virus, but the worse job for long-term health.
I pass the emission test…done.
To an Italian Restaurant with a side trip for milk
Babbo’s is an Italian restaurant with several locations in Metro PHX. It is local. One of its first (maybe original?) locations is in our old neighborhood, not too far from our current home, and on the way from the Emissions center. I get the text that the order will be 25 minutes until completion.
I am only 10 minutes away. I decide to go to the grocery store that is in the same parking lot. I am happy to report that my family has a good supply of toilet paper and food. But we could use some milk. That’s it. Just milk.
When I normally shop, I shop after a morning workout. A lot of the time I have to wait for the cashier to come to the register to check me out. This is not in the morning. The cashier is there during the afternoon and working quite hard. As I pass the long lines at the register, I go to the back of the store for the milk.
None. No milk. Well, I take that back. There were many gallons of goat milk available. As we get past this unprecedented event in our life, the goat milk producers may have to take a serious look at their business plan. If you can’t sell during this time…or maybe, they just stocked it a few minutes before I got there…ya, that’s it.
The only thing worse than goat milk, in my narrow world, is black coffee. We drink half and half. Apparently, many others do too. No half and half. But, there was a lot of flavored coffee creamer. Perhaps the goat milk and hazelnut coffee creamer would be sold out in a matter of minutes, but there was plenty left at this time when all other milk products were out of stock.
So what did I do? I bought the coffee creamer. Hazelnut creamer sounds a lot better than black coffee.
I am embarrassed to report a panic buy of coffee creamer…done.
Now it is time to go to Babbo’s. Many smart posts suggest that we, as customers, support our neighborhood businesses. Honestly, as I raise my right hand, that was our plan. Support the company with a take-out order. And, geez, the calzones are pretty darn good.
As I near the restaurant, the outside seating is almost full. When I walk into the restaurant, there is no one waiting, which is unusual. The inside dining room is empty. The bar is full. Not sure the reason, but that is the summary.
I then look at the back of the bar. There is my big bag with our food. But that is not the story; there are several, several, several more big bags lined up. At least 15 to 20. What a great feeling, my neighbors, are supporting our neighborhood establishment! And, now, I realize why the bar is full, they are waiting for their take-out order to be fulfilled. What a great story!
It was important to me that we pay with “today money,” instead of using our Gift Card. They need the money now. So that is what we did and a cash tip. Nothing that should make headlines, but something people should think about.
I grab my take-out order…done.
I make it home — back to the self-quarantine.
Recap:
1. Emissions peeps are ok
2. Insurance claims are still working
3. Windshield business still strong
4. Goat milk can survive my panic buy but coffee creamer cannot…but maybe that is just me
5. There is nothing better than a full bar — when they are waiting for their food to support their neighborhood business.
