<p class="text | article-text">LONDON, Ky. (WYMT) - In 1998 Something&rsquo;s Brewing opened in London, bringing hometown coffee to the city. After a brief hiatus, owner Darlene Smith reopened in 2018 and has built a loyal following ever since.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">&ldquo;We have a lot of loyal people who come every day and support us,&rdquo; said Smith behind a facemask.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">The facemask Smith wears daily is the new normal for many during the coronavirus pandemic.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">This normal is accompanied by a decrease in business.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">&ldquo;We&rsquo;re probably half of what we used to be,&rdquo; said Smith talking about the business she does daily.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">While supporting local businesses, local coffee shops are somewhat nostalgic. Buyers can get a cup of coffee, or tea, some food, and sit down and interact with each other, and at Something&rsquo;s Brewing, the owner.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">&ldquo;We love to talk to &lsquo;em, get to know them,&rdquo; said Smith.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">But, those days are gone now.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">Smith is required by the state to mandate people wearing masks. In addition, she is required to have her business at half capacity.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">While these changes are meant to protect her and her customers, she fears it could have a lasting impact on her business long after the pandemic subsides.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">&ldquo;We kind of don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s ever going to be the same. We thought in June or July it would be better but you know, now we just don&rsquo;t think it is like it&rsquo;s worse, we think, now than it was before,&rdquo; said Smith.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">In the meantime, she continues to cut where she can. She has moved from opening six days a week to just Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">In addition to the cut in hours, her staff and outsourcing are disappearing too.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">&ldquo;I do a lot of work myself. I used to have a CPA but now I do the paperwork myself. See, it&rsquo;s a lot of work, if I had to hire it all done I couldn&rsquo;t do it. I&rsquo;d have to close,&rdquo; said Smith.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">While she adjusts she hopes that the future holds better days, and she hopes she can return to business as it was before March.</p>
<p class="text | article-text">Source: <a href="https://www.wymt.com/2020/07/15/covid-19-could-have-lasting-impact-on-how-we-enjoy-local-coffee-shops/" target="_blank">Mountain News WYMT</a></p>
<p class="text | article-text">Published date:&nbsp;Jul. 16, 2020</p>