Local Businesses Adapt, Persevere Amid Coronavirus (COVID-19) Shutdown

While social distancing rules have closed many local businesses, others are coming up with creative ways to stay open while still following CDC guidelines.

“The last couple of weeks have been crazy for everybody in Oklahoma City,” Red Coyote Running and Training co-owner Jon Beck said.

After the store was cleared to remain open for delivery and curbside pickup by Governor Kevin Stitt’s office, the store's husband and wife owners realized they would have to get creative.

In the past few weeks the store has added an online store, curbside pickup, delivery, and even virtual shoe fittings.

“We show them different shoes, the colors, maybe an updated model from what they've had,” Beck said.  “We talk with them a lot about what they're going to be using their shoes for, what kind of injuries they might have.”

The store held its first online training class Monday. Beck said some of the changes they made may become permanent services.

“It's really forced us to make the changes we've always thought about, we said ‘yeah we'll get there we're going to work on that next year,’ and this forced us to do it within a week,” Beck said.

At the end of the day, Jon said it’s all about taking care of the men and women who work to make his small business feel like a small family.

“That's why we're doing these fittings, we're doing the delivery. That's why we're doing the online store, so that we still have something for all of them to come in and do and we can keep them employed as long as we can,” Beck said. “They are what make Red Coyote what we are.”