Adopt Me: Morristown businesses seek your help as pandemic winter approaches

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People adopt children, pets, even streets. So why not adopt a business?

Adopt a Business Morristown aims to help struggling shops and restaurants survive the pandemic winter.

Visitors to that website can donate to businesses of their choice.  About 30 establishments are participating so far.

“You know, $5, $10, $5 a week, whatever you have, everything helps. The winter is going to be bad,” Dave Walters, owner of SmartWorld Coffee, said outside his South Street shop at Tuesday’s kickoff of the grassroots program.

“A lot of people come to our downtown, and we really want them to have this downtown when COVID-19 finally breaks,” Mayor Tim Dougherty said.

Video: Adopt a Business Morristown opens for business:

Like many promising ideas, this one was brewed over… a cup of coffee.

SmartWorld customer Will Draper, a semi-retired managing consultant and aspiring novelist, started an online drive to buy sidewalk heaters for the café.

He and pal Tom Ferrara, another SmartWorld regular, became alarmed when several restaurants closed a few weeks ago. Ferrara said Dougherty suggested they expand their campaign.

“It’s real simple. We just didn’t want to see more businesses go under through no fault of their own,” said Ferrara, a retirement planner.

Mayor Tim Dougherty, center, flanked by volunteers Will Draper and Tom Ferrara, at Adopt a Morristown Business announcement, outside SmartWorld Coffee, Nov. 24, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

They enlisted friends, including Morristown First Lady Mary Dougherty, to knock on doors downtown and invite proprietors to sign up.

Prabdheep Singh, owner of Supercuts, at Adopt a Morristown Business announcement, outside SmartWorld Coffee, Nov. 24, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Some graciously declined, saying they are getting by, the mayor said. Others were grateful.

“This will basically help me survive,” said Prabdheep Singh, who runs a Supercuts hair salon. Like many business owners, he has his sights set on spring, when he hopes warm weather and COVID vaccines will restore the economy.

“Traffic is down more than 50 percent. It’s been really rough. We were closed for April, May and June… I took the hit. I didn’t lay off anyone,” Singh said.

‘NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS’

From home-made masks to food drives and takeout campaigns, the Greater Morristown community has been generous throughout the pandemic.

Patrons of Tavern Off the Green already have donated more than $7,500 through Adopt a Business Morristown, which had a soft launch ahead of Tuesday’s fanfare.

Mount Freedom Printing and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown have contributed in-kind services to the program.

State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, second from right, thanks Mayor Tim Dougherty, left, at Adopt a Morristown Business announcement, outside SmartWorld Coffee, Nov. 24, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“We’ve seen over and over and over again, neighbors helping neighbors…as we go through this hard time during the winter months, hopefully this will be just enough to keep these businesses alive and open,” said state Sen. Anthony M. Bucco (R-25th Dist.), pledging to donate to Adopt a Business Morristown.

Bucco said he supports a bill to allocate $300 million from the federal CARES Act to relief for small businesses in New Jersey.

Back in March, Walters helped run Serve It Forward.  Residents bought $190,000 of local restaurant gift cards, he said, for distribution to front-line workers at Morristown Medical Center.

Philanthropists and foundations pitched in last month with nearly $680,000, enough to pay three months of rent for 62 Morristown businesses, in a project spearheaded by the Morristown Partnership.

Those payments are earmarked for landlords.  Adopt a Business Morristown donations will go to business owners, for use as they see fit, Mayor Dougherty said.

Nestor Bedoya, owner of Chef Fredy’s Table, at Adopt a Morristown Business announcement, outside SmartWorld Coffee, Nov. 24, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“We have about 17 employees that depend on us. It’s not just about the rent, it’s also about making sure those guys are having a paycheck and enough food to carry and bring back home,” said Nestor Bedoya, owner of Chef Fredy’s Table on Speedwell Avenue.

“This is definitely going to help tremendously,” he said.

Walters said he’s tried hard to look after his people, too, while chasing government loans. He’s preaching optimism, counting on faithful customers to save the day.

“Rent’s not ending. The bills aren’t ending. Staff is like family. You don’t want to lay people off,” he said.

“If we get five months’ worth of rent, it will get us through to next March, April. Hopefully warm weather will come up, we’ll have a vaccine starting to go. People’s spirits will be better, they’ll start rushing out again.”

SmartWorld Coffee owner Dave Walters at Adopt a Morristown Business announcement, outside SmartWorld Coffee, Nov. 24, 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

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7 COMMENTS

  1. It’s great to see so many individuals helping out the businesses of Morristown. It’s a shame to see others being so petty.

  2. On a brighter note there is a potential for a vaccination combating Covid 19 coming . Exact dates unknown , effectiveness hopefully 100%.
    If compassion and common sense take place there will be give and take on all sides. Do what you can, see the bigger picture ,help out if you can.
    The pandemic is very real and very serious. Anyone who has lost a loved one can tell you.
    Business is about business. That said this is a time to show kindness and unselfishness .
    No man or woman is an island. We all need and depend on each other.
    If we all share and care we will survive and get though these challenging days.
    Reach out and help , please.

  3. Landlords should offer rent forbearance and/or deferral commensurate with property tax forbearance and/or deferral.

  4. I think it makes sense. I’ve watched a few businesses struggle while keeping staff going.
    Ive wondered if the Landlords could or should offer some temporary forbearance- discount.
    I suspect most of the buildings are owned with little debt.
    The high rents were justified by the normal traffic and income, but could be adjusted
    to reflect this short term squeeze.

  5. Is that Mary Dougherty holding a coffee cup for the photo opp? You really can’t make this stuff up….too rich, really 🙂

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