By Megan Tran
The Square is quite literally named after the shape. Businesses are lined up one-by-one around a single block forming a square. It has become infamous for college nightlife, crowded bars, small boutiques, spontaneous tattoos and restaurants. But that has drastically changed since the Coronavirus hit San Marcos.
Coronavirus has viciously spread throughout Texas since the beginning of March of this year. Because the deadly virus was becoming a major problem, Governor Greg Abbott issued a state-wide order at the end of March stating that all non-essential businesses needed to be shut down.
However, Governor Abbott has slowly started opening up non-essential businesses in Texas through phases. Now, was this a good idea or not? According to KSAT, starting the month of June, about 22 businesses in San Marcos had to close down due to employees contracting the virus. (And according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there is an astounding 6,231 cases in Hays County to date.)
At surface-level, bystanders see businesses closing as a detrimental effect to the economy but how has the pandemic affected society, business and personal life through the eyes of the employees, the people who keep businesses operating? Employees from a local San Marcos restaurant and bar, Vodka Street Global Bistro, give insight on how COVID-19 has affected them as a whole.
Vodka Street, along with most businesses on the San Marcos Square, were mostly known for their bar and night-life. With Abbott’s guidelines, the business could only continue operating by utilizing their restaurant that customers once neglected.
Roman Rodriguez, a former Texas State student and manager for two years at Vodka Street Global Bistro, did not really see COVID-19 as the end of the world.
“As a restaurant, we were able to still sell to-go orders during lockdown and slowly open up according to Abbott’s guidelines. Yes, it did affect business but it was not the end of the world.”
Shelby Michael, a Texas State student and employee at Vodka Street Global Bistro, was affected by the Coronavirus more than one would think. The obvious assumption is that she no longer could work and therefore was not getting paid during the lockdown- which is true. But now, with businesses being back open, working as a bartender has been extremely different from working pre-COVID-19.
“Now, we have a 50% capacity. All customers have to wear masks, we have to wear masks. Tables are spaced out six feet apart. But there’s no guarantee that people are going to consistently follow those guidelines. I’m still putting myself at risk by going into work but I’m glad were back in business.”
From the outside in, small businesses are such a minuscule part of life but it takes a lot of great employees to keep things running.
The city of San Marcos has printed these infographics on the sidewalk pavement of the Square. It is a gentle, yet effective reminder to take precaution while still enjoying the area. 
On the front of this business, there are infographics emphasizing precautions for the Coronavirus. Additionally, one of the flyers informs the public that they are now using self-cleaning surface technology- a very popular product during this time. 
The pandemic has greatly affected the hours that businesses are open. ‘Tattoo Emporium’ has made a makeshift sign, named ‘COVID HOURS’, to change their original store hours that are printed on the storefront window. 
Walking around the square, you will see an abundance of signs on the windows of every business. Customers are not allowed to enter buildings without a mask over your mouth and nose. 
‘The Marc’ has changed their headline sign to say “We miss you”, after being shut down by the government during the beginning of the pandemic. 
Inside ‘Vodka Street Global Bistro’, customers are wearing masks while entering the bar/restaurant. Each table section is separated to meet CDC guidelines- six feet apart. The business has also created an ordering line to prohibit a crowded bar space. 
Pictured in this photo is Anhthu Nguyen and Shantal Ortega, both students at Texas State University. Once seated, customers are allowed to take their masks off. 
‘The Green Parrot’ is a well-known bar for a lot of residents and college students in San Marcos, Texas. Due to the Coronavirus, the business has been temporarily closed; the once lit up ‘Open’ sign has lost it’s spark for the time-being. 
In this photo, a ‘closed temporarily’ sign hangs by a piece of tape on the storefront of ‘Hill Country Humidor’. This shop has been a historical tobacco shop for the San Marcos area for over 10 years. The pandemic has slowed down business for this cigar store. 
Pictured above was a clothing boutique, ‘River Rose Clothing’ that closed this past September after being in business for over four years. 
Some businesses are temporarily or permanently closed, some require masks for entry, but this coffee shop, on the corner of N LBJ Dr. and E Hopkins St., offers online order pick-ups on the porch of their business. ‘The Coffee Bar’ has effectively maintained their business flow while combating social gatherings.
A Look Inside the Global Street Bistro During a Global Pandemic
By Megan Tran
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Coronavirus has viciously spread throughout Texas since the beginning of March of this year. Because the deadly virus was becoming a major problem, Governor Greg Abbott issued a state-wide order at the end of March stating that all non-essential businesses needed to be shut down.
However, Governor Abbott has slowly started opening up non-essential businesses in Texas through phases. Now, was this a good idea or not? According to KSAT, starting the month of June, about 22 businesses had to close down due to employees contracting the virus. (And according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, there is an astounding 6,231 cases in Hays County to date.)
At surface-level, bystanders see businesses closing as a detrimental effect to the economy but how has the pandemic affected society, business and personal life through the eyes of the employees, the people who keep businesses operating? Employees from a local San Marcos restaurant and bar, Vodka Street Global Bistro, give insight on how COVID-19 has affected them as a whole.
Vodka Street, along with most businesses on the San Marcos Square, were mostly known for their bar and night-life. With Abbott’s guidelines, the business could only continue operating by utilizing their restaurant that customers once neglected.
Roman Rodriguez, a former Texas State student and manager for two years at Vodka Street Global Bistro, did not really see COVID-19 as the end of the world.
“As a restaurant, we were able to still sell to-go orders during lockdown and slowly open up according to Abbott’s guidelines. Yes, it did affect business but it was not the end of the world.”
Shelby Michael, a Texas State student and employee at Vodka Street Global Bistro, was affected by the Coronavirus more than one would think. The obvious assumption is that she no longer could work and therefore was not getting paid during the lockdown- which is true. But now, with businesses being back open, working as a bartender has been extremely different from working pre-COVID-19.
“Now, we have a 50% capacity. All customers have to wear masks, we have to wear masks. Tables are spaced out six feet apart. But there’s no guarantee that people are going to consistently follow those guidelines. I’m still putting myself at risk by going into work but I’m glad were back in business.”
From the outside in, small businesses are such a miniscule part of life but it takes a lot of great employees to keep things running.
