"One of the hardest (maybe the hardest) point in my business life was the decision to close and layoff all of our staff. A small team of us remained on the State's Workshare and navigated how we could continue to serve our customers and survive." Chris Lampen-Crowell, Gazelle Sports #wearedowntownkzoo Opened in 1985 by two young naïve entrepreneurs, Bruce Johnson and Chris Lampen-Crowell, Gazelle sports was born from a passion for the Kalamazoo community and running. " Believing that relationships were the soul of any organization and a dream to build a business based on care and community, we opened our doors December 1985. Old running friends became our customers and new customers became our friends. We have grown through the years, but still hold our core values of care and community," Chris said. Despite the unpredictability of the pandemic and stay at home orders, Gazelle Sports staff have been hard at work creating and implementing new ways to do business and connect with our customers and community. And the community has responded with online purchases, curbside pickup and event virtual fittings. 👆 Local downtown businesses need the community's support now more than ever - click "Support Downtown" in the bio link for ways you can help during this time. 👆 Are you a downtown business who wants to tell your story? We want to hear it. Click "Business Stories" in the bio link to share your story.

"In short, the pandemic has completely and irrevocably impacted our business. We had to lay-off 77 staff, a ⅓ of whom have been with us for 8+ years. We are missing our 500+ guests every week. We had to completely close-up, unable to sustain on carry-out business alone. We are coming back, but we won’t be the same. Likely no restaurant or business will be, nor can we expect to be." Julie Stanley, @food_dance Long before it became a trend in our society to eat locally, Food Dance owner Julie Stanley found that shopping at the Farmers Markets made the food she was cooking taste better. At Food Dance she's found the same rings true. For over 25 years, Food Dance has been committed to helping build and to being a part of the thriving local food system. For Julie, it’s about the connection with the people and places their food comes from AND the people they're serving it to. With the onset of the pandemic, "I think 25 years allows me to know people want to come to Food Dance, but there’s always doubt and risk in any entrepreneur's head. Sometimes up-close and lost in all the details it can feel too hard and too much, quite frankly," Julie said. "I find hope in the ways I see our team and the community connecting and helping each other despite the barriers. I’ve individually reached out to many staff, the staff have been supporting each other and helping, too. We haven’t stopped connecting through food, we’ve just been forced to find an alternate route." As Julie navigates Food Dance's reopening, she asks the community for their grace and support. There will be changes (though what those look like exactly are yet to be determined), but Food Dance will not change our values when it comes to how they source, prepare or serve food to the community. 👆 Local downtown businesses need the community's support now more than ever - click "Support Downtown" in the bio link for ways you can help during this time. 👆 Are you a downtown business who wants to tell your story? We want to hear it. Click "Business Stories" in the bio link to share your story.

"The loss of 85% of business and loss of direct contact with customers has been very difficult. But the support from the community has been very welcomed and appreciated. The assistance of everyone involved in the day to day operations makes us face this difficult time with hope for the future." Paul Comensoli, @comensolis_bistro Opened in October 2001, Comensoli's open up in an already changed world due to 9/11, but over the years they have grown and watched Kalamazoo grow as well. They continue their goal of serving authentic Italian food but have had to drastically reinvent their dining concept to fit in during these times. Above all, Paul says they are thankful for their continued support - whether through takeout, delivery, or pickup, each show of support has given them hope. 👆 Local downtown businesses need the community's support now more than ever - click "Support Downtown" in the bio link for ways you can help during this time. 👆 Are you a downtown business who wants to tell your story? We want to hear it. Click "Business Stories" in the bio link to share your story.

The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership has the opportunity to apply for up to $50,000 in grant funds to assist small businesses in Downtown Kalamazoo through the MEDC Match on Main – COVID-19 Response Program. In order to apply, the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership needs to first identify the small businesses who will receive grant funds as part of this program by next week. Up to 25 different businesses will be selected to receive $2,000 each in grant funding. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Monday, May 25. . . . 👆 Learn more in the bio link - Downtown Kalamazoo COVID-19 Business Resources