ANNA MARIA – Like many members of Anna Maria Island’s business community, Mike Coleman is concerned about the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having on the diverse group of Island employees who depend on its tourism-based economy.
In the mid- to late-2000s, Coleman and fellow resident and businessman Ed Chiles joined forces to develop the Pine Avenue Restoration (PAR) mixed-use project that features residential units above commercial units along Pine Avenue. The Coleman family is also involved in the Poppo’s Taqueria group of restaurants that began with the Anna Maria location on Pine Avenue.
“First, I want to say I believe the local officials have done everything that can to be done to comply with the state orders and protect the freedoms of those who live here. I have nothing but respect for what they’ve done,” Coleman said, while chatting on the Poppo’s porch last week.
“At the same time, I think we need to give some thought to all the people that have been put out of work suddenly and without recourse in the last few weeks. We’re talking hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs. These are people that are dependent on their incomes day to day, week to week and hand to mouth. And now they have no income, and many have no access to unemployment insurance,” Coleman said.
“I’m hoping everyone will join together to get us through this as quickly as possible so those people can get back to work, which is what they want to do. They work in restaurants, they clean houses, they clean vacation rentals and they own small businesses here. I’m concerned that some of the small businesses here are going to close and never reopen. Other businesses here have managed to pivot, and some of them are staying open just to pay their employees while the business loses money. The impact is hardest at the bottom of the income scale,” Coleman said.
“At Poppo’s, we’re doing everything we can to maintain employment at all our stores. We have nine stores. We go from St. Pete to south Sarasota, including our location on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton, and they’re all still open,” Coleman said.
On March 20, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order EO 20-7, an order that limits all Florida restaurants that remain open to takeout and delivery service until that order expires on April 30, if it is not extended.
“We were in a position to pivot and I’m grateful for that. Our people have been working for about a year on software that allows for takeout orders, curbside pickup and online ordering. That put us in a position to survive – not in all of our stores, some of our stores should actually be closed, but we’re keeping them open because the people that work there need the money and need their jobs,” Coleman said.
Coleman was asked how the pandemic and the ensuing recovery period might alter the restaurant and business landscapes.
“I don’t think anybody can see the end of this or how it’s going to take shape. I think it’s important to be able to pivot and respond as things occur and hope for the best,” Coleman said.
Employee’s perspective
Allie Sykeny is the general manager of the Poppo’s restaurant in Anna Maria.
“I’m very happy to be working. I have no problem working through all of this. We’re staying safe and restaurants are actually cleaner in general. We practice sanitation without a pandemic. We had an inspection back in November and we got a 100%. And now we’ve stepped it up a little more. I couldn’t be more grateful to be working,” Sykeny said.
She and her staff wear masks while working and a plexiglass shield has been installed in front of the computer screen used to take orders and process payments.
Sykeny was asked what she envisions for restaurants when they reopen for in-house dining.
“I see 50% of the people that are ready to get back out there and continue normal life and I see the other 50% that are going to be a little more apprehensive about being in public,” she said.
Sykeny was asked what she’s hearing from some of her friends in the hospitality industry who are not working.
Pulling no punches, she said, “They’re suicidal. It’s very sad. It sucks.”
