KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The clippers at Whiskey Beard Barbershop in Midtown Kansas City are usually silent on Sundays and Mondays. But these are some unusual times.
"Everybody has been calling trying to get appointments in," Lutisia Taylor, a barber at Whiskey Beard, said. "We’re even doing walk-ins if we have to, so we’re taking everything we can get right now."
Under the stay-at-home order issued over the weekend, barbershops and salons are classified as non-essential businesses and must close on Tuesday.
"If we can’t fit everybody, you know we’re recommending customers to go to other barbershops," Taylor said.
Hair is Taylor's passion; it has been her livelihood for the past 14 years, including during the Great Recession.
"I really didn’t feel it like I’m about to feel it right now," Taylor said. "You know, they said 30 days, but I feel like it’s going to be longer. Like, in my heart, I feel like it’s definitely going to be longer."
Some of her customers are stepping up. One man paid her for an entire month since he will not be able to come in for 30 days.
"I’m grateful to have customers like that that are looking out for us," Taylor said.
So are the few businesses that remain open.
On Sunday afternoon, Char Bar in Westport gave away meals to service industry employees impacted by the COVID-19 closures.
"We all have the same concerns. We all have the same needs," said James Westphal, a partner of the Beer KC Restaurant group, that includes Char Bar. "We want to make sure we get through this time."
In total, Char Bar managers and chefs prepared 250 hot boxed meals.
"It restores some faith in humanity that I was lacking in," Cruz Gonzalez, a service industry employee, said.
Gonzalez and others needed to present a recent pay stub or liquor card.
"People that are coming back for the hot box meals are also giving cash tips of a dollar, $5, $10, and we’re putting that toward our employee-assistance fund," Mark Kelpe, another partner with the Beer KC Restaurant Group, said.
Financial assistance also is on the mind of city leaders as they navigate the coronavirus pandemic.
"In Kansas City government as well, we're trying to come up with as many funds as possible to help support people," Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas said during a news conference Sunday.
Taylor said that help can't come soon enough.
"Raising three kids, you know, I’m just going to make sure I use less resources as I can at home with what I got, you know," Taylor said. "Spread them out. That’s all I can do and just hope for the best."
