Many businesses in Anaheim remain closed since the COVID-19 closure back in March. Business owners in the area were worried when Disney announced 28,000 layoffs. Waiting on the state to issue reopening guidelines for theme parks is also adding to that worry.
A local Subway restaurant owner, Rick Cerney, says his shop relies on Disneyland’s tourism and his store has been operating at a loss.
“If Disney opens, the hotels open. Even if they’re at 50%, we’ll be okay, but at 0% — that’s not good,” Cerney said.
The Desert Palms Hotel & Suites, located just down the street from the Disneyland Resort entrance has been empty since mid-March, according to General Manager Fred Brown, and is down from 80 employees to three.
“We will not open until Disney does open,” Brown said.
Brown also said nearly three-quarters of his business comes from the Disneyland Resort theme parks.
“I really wish that the governor would give guidelines for theme parks so that we can at least start working on a plan to know what we have to do to get open,” Brown said.
According to Anaheim’s Director of Communications, Mike Lyster, the number of unemployed residents in the city of Anaheim is currently at about 20,000.
We keep hoping California will issue realistic theme park reopening guidelines soon!
