Jessica Quinhones announced this week that she’s closing Around the Corner mainly because of the pushback by patrons that they wear face masks while inside her coffee shop during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three days after the announcement, Quinhones said, “The worst part is the relief I am feeling. It’s terrible to know you are walking away from your dreams.”
Quinhones has worked in food service for 20 years; the last eight with the coffee shop.
An entertainer at heart, Quinhones said the best times were when groups gathered and she could make them happy with food and drink and a welcoming environment.
COVID-19 changed all that.
A firm believer in science, Quinhones followed health department guidelines that recommend social distancing and face masks as an effective means in keeping the virus from spreading.
“I don’t think it’s rude to ask people to wear a mask,” she said Wednesday.
Health officials would agree that Quinhones took the right measures to protect not only herself and her staff, but other patrons as well. But as we all know, in today’s divisive culture the pandemic is more than a public health issue, but one of politics. And not a few let Quinhones know they thought she was on the wrong side of the fence and pulled their business.
“People felt they could talk to us in any manner they wanted. It became very toxic. I couldn’t do it anymore,” she said of the confrontations.
It didn’t help that Quinhones often felt outnumbered with only herself and fellow staff member Paige Olson on hand. Or that they are women.
“It would have been nice to have more backup,” she said.
Quinhones also could see how the circumstances at work were negatively affecting her.
Recalling a recent meeting of the USD 257 school board, Quinhones regrets a recent appearance where she criticized board members for their pandemic measures.
“That was a perfect example of what behaviors I was receiving at work and how an hour later I threw them back at the school board. They did not deserve that. My behavior was rude and uncalled for. They deserve better from me,” she said.
“I want to be a resource, not a hindrance,” she said.
