After the PIAA made the decision to push forward with high school sports, some local businesses believe the decision could prove to be an economic lifeline.

 

Lisa Brinker runs Brink Ink in Edinboro, a business that sells high school sports apparel.

 

During the pandemic, Brinker says her profits have dropped significantly. After all, she says 95% of her profit comes from selling those clothing items.

 

“I am waiting to see, God willing, if sports will come back”, Brinker said. She also mentioned how at the end of the year, she may have to make a difficult decision.

 

“I’m sure many businesses owners are going to have to decide whether or not they want to stay open”, said Brinker. “I know that at the end of the year, I might have to make that decision myself”.

 

Ron Bidwell is in a similar scenario. His business, R&S Sports, has had a bit better profit during COVID-19.

 

But he also knows things haven’t been easy for his apparel shop, either.

 

“For instance, the little leagues didn't buy equipment, they didn't buy shirts for all the kids. All of that is shut down”, said Bidwell.

 

Across the street, Pat Hargest thinks sports returning will be “a good shot in the arm” for the Edinboro Hotel Bar.

 

His restaurant tends to be fairly popular on game days.

 

 

 “On a Friday night for football, we would have fans from both teams coming in, having dinner, and then after the games, we'd get some of the coaching staff and everybody else that came after the game too”, Hargest says.

 

But for his business, Hargest believes the current governmental restrictions on bars and restaurants will have to be either lifted or changed.

 

Bidwell is confident that eventually, sales will pick up, but believes businesses will still have to hold on for a while longer.

 

“I think if businesses are able to survive for six to eight months, then you will really start to see business pick up. People are itching to get out of the house”, said Bidwell.

 

This story was supported by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.