March is usually when Skagway Brewing Company manager Mike Healy starts making money again. But right now the brewpub is closed to diners.
“We’re usually getting ready, but not this year,” he said.
It takes 120 employees to run his three restaurants. Only 30 of them live in Skagway year round. Seasonal workers that cater to summer tourism typically return to guiding companies and restaurants in Haines and Skagway this time of year. But those communities are urging workers to stay home to limit the spread of coronavirus. Some seasonal workers are returning anyway—as their jobs vanish.
“We’ve basically told all of our returning employees and people we’ve already hired for the season: Stay home. Don’t come here yet.”
The Skagway institution closed to dine-in service even before the statewide mandate to combat the spread of the coronavirus. And since the cruise ship industry announced a delayed start to the season and Canada’s port closed, he’s had to make some tough decisions.
“I just had the most difficult day as a business owner—I’ve ever had. My worst fear game true, and I had to layoff all but six employees until further notice, and I don’t know when, when that further notice,” Healy said.
He says his employees are understanding. And so far all of them said they would wait and see what happens… and be ready to come up in July if health conditions and the cruise ship forecast improve.
The brew pub operates at a loss in the wintertime, but makes the money back as about a million cruise ship visitors flood the port town every summer. By March Healy says he’s usually making up to $3000 a day in sales. This year it’s only $600. Operating cost? $800.
“But we’re gonna continue this as long as we can because we’d like to try to maintain some sense of normalcy in Skagway right now. You know, if we close our doors there is no place to get dinner,” he said.
Skagway’s employment rate more than triples in the summertime. So Heely isn’t the only business owner that’s navigating between safety and the bottom line. White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad—by some counts the most popular shoreside attraction in the state—has also put about 150 seasonal workers on hold. The Red Onion Saloon and brothel museum is also telling its seasonal workforce not to come to town. And across the fjord in Haines, guiding companies are telling staff to hang back, too.
But some workers didn’t get the update until they were already on the road.
“I started February 24th,” said Sean Reed from his cell phone at Watson Lake, headed towards Haines. The former guide was driving up from California when he got the news.
“I was ski touring on the way up and the last part of it got cut a little short because every because everything that’s going on right now.”
His plans are all up in the air.
“I now am searching for a job in Haines. I was planning on working at Alpenglow [pizzeria] and then switching over potentially to commercial fishing or department position game, but right now I do not have a job because Haines is a one of the last places on the planet where you actually have to apply in person,” he laughed.
Now he’s unsure if the pizzeria will open, let alone have a job for him. And he’s concerned that his guide friends, who are out of work now, too, will be competing for the few jobs left in Haines. He said he’s basically been in isolation for two weeks on the road already, but still plans to quarantine when he gets to town.
