Comstock Market in LV
Small business in the time of COVID-19
In this post we cast our focus on a business situated in the heart of Linda Vista—Comstock Market. This business is located across the street from the Linda Vista Post Office. Because of its central location, many Linda Vista residents have stepped inside this store, whether to buy a lottery ticket, a loaf of bread, or that bag of chips. As with many a small business, Comstock Market maintains its finger on the pulse of the local community, servicing the daily flow of customers, anticipating their wants and needs, and observing the goings-on of the neighborhood. The manager of this family run-business, Ryan Daly, has worked at this Linda Vista store for five years and has grown to understand and appreciate his LV client base.
We asked the hard working Mr. Daly to give us some time to answer a series of questions to obtain his special insight regarding operating a LV business during a pandemic.
1. Besides toilet paper, what particular items have people stocked up on during the pandemic?
People have stocked up on things like hand sanitizers and face masks. We maintain a section full of these kinds of supplies.
2. What has proved to be a popular item during the past few months?
Rice, canned foods and stuff like Cup of Noodles and micro-wave foods have been very popular.
3. Have you had any problems with people wearing masks inside the store?
Most people comply with the mask requirement. If they forget their masks, we have masks available for sale. There are some people who have gotten angry when asked to wear a mask. Sometimes they want to step outside and fight me, but I just calmly tell them it’s the law.
4. Have you seen anything change since the first few weeks of the pandemic.
There are a growing number of homeless people in the area. There are many in the nearby parking lots, and at night they sleep in front of the post office. What’s sad is that most of the situations we have with people refusing to wear masks involve homeless people. One time I had to ask a homeless person to leave because she got mad about wearing a mask, and when I escorted her outside, her dog bit me on the hip.
5. Besides wearing a mask, are there other precautions you’ve made here to keep you and your customers safe?
We have hand sanitizers available in the store for our customers to use. And we ensure people maintain social distancing requirements.
6. Besides alcohol, are there other items people buy to comfort themselves during the pandemic?
Everyone has their own particular vice. For some its cigarettes, for others it’s lottery tickets.
Ryan Daly, Manager of Comstock Market
7. Speaking about lottery tickets, has anyone ever won a lotto jackpot here at Comstock Liquor?
No one has ever won the big jackpot, but people routinely win thousand-dollar scratch offs.
8. How have you felt about working so close to the public during the pandemic? Do you get anxious? Worried?
I’m okay with working closely with the public. I don’t worry about it. I wear a mask and I wash my hands often.
9. Any good deals or products you would like to recommend to potential customers?
People seem to really like Bud Light beer. (Editor’s note: Bud Light is generally recognized as America’s best selling beer)
10. Does anything funny ever happen to you while working here?
I think it’s funny when people are about to buy something at the counter and then suddenly realize they forgot their money.
11. How do you relax when you get a day off?
<laugh> I don’t ever have a day off.
12. What do you like about working here in Linda Vista?
I like that Linda Vista is a friendly, family oriented place, and that everyone knows each other.
13. Do you have any special message for our readers?
Stay safe during these times, Linda Vista!
***
The Linda Vista Update wishes to thank Ryan Daly for participating in this interview.
The next time you’re in Comstock Market say hello to Mr. Daly and say you read about him in The Linda Vista Update, and don’t forget to bring your money.
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