Posted on 03/24/20
| News Source: WBAL TV
Owings Mills, MD - Mar. 24, 2020 - Business owners said it's going to be tough to shut down.
Gov. Larry Hogan, in announcing an even more aggressive attempt to quash the coronavirus pandemic, ordered all nonessential businesses to shut down by 5 p.m. Monday.
At Foundry Row in Owings Mills, salons were shutting down and a massage parlor already closed a while ago.
"This morning, I have enacted an executive order which closes all nonessential businesses, organizations, establishments and facilities in Maryland effective at 5 o'clock today," Hogan said Monday morning.
For Myrtle Kee, the announcement was expected. She just opened her salon, Personal Glamour, in January.
"Being self-employed, there's not a lot I can do, I just have to pray and ask God to keep me. If you are in the situation where you don't have savings, you pretty much are in trouble at a time like this," Kee said.
Sheryl Stanford, a hairdresser, knew the shutdown was coming, too, and she said it will be very difficult.
"(It's) pretty devastating. I love what I do, it's my passion, and I know there's going to be a lot of upset people. My kids will love it, but I love work," Stanford said.
With no professional sporting events, Jeffrey Katzen, who owns Baltimore Sports and Novelty, knew he was going to take a hit.
"I'm nonessential. I am essential if the Ravens are playing at home. It's more important for people to be safe and stay home. They can always order online, or on Facebook, we can ship it to them," Katzen said.