Santa Barbara businesses are frustrated with social distancing timeline

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- On March 15, California Governor Gavin Newsom called for all non-essential businesses to be closed. Those businesses include bars, wineries, gyms and stores.

On March 29, President Donald Trump said social distancing will continue through at least April 30.

On State Street, the owner of clothing boutique Dylan Star, Erica Brown, said she is frustrated with the timeline and uncertainty of how much longer she will have to keep her doors closed. She is trying to stay positive and search for other ways to make money like moving to mostly online sales. But she's scared this could drag out a lot longer than just April 30.

“Definitely the unknown is frustrating," said Brown. "Also what if they say some crazy far-off day, and that’s really frustrating. So we’re just trying to go with every day at a time.”

To adapt to the unknown, closed businesses are restructuring and reopening online. Local gyms, who were forced to close to the public, have moved their workout classes to social media in an attempt to pay the bills.

Master Dave Wheaton is a co-owner of Martial Arts Family Fitness. He said, “I think it’s going to morph our business. I mean, I think we’re going to have a much bigger online class presence now actually. We’re working really hard at developing, using technology to develop great classes.”

Brown is also looking towards online sales. “Didn’t really have an online store, we only used to sell once a month as a sale," said Brown. "Well that’s drastically changed. And now we’ve opened up our online, and we’re trying to put more products in every day.”

While companies are concerned about when they can reopen, they say the best they can do is focus on themselves.

“We do run a tight margin. And it’s, you know. But we have a lot of optimism for our online stuff,” said Wheaton.

Those businesses hope their online sales can keep them afloat until the health emergency is over.