Peace Arch Duty Free Shop hurt by coronavirus
Posted March 12, 2020 3:12 pm.
Last Updated March 12, 2020 3:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SURREY (NEWS 1130) – The owner of the Peace Arch Duty Free Shop says his business is hurting because too many people believe the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the border.
Peter Raju, the shop owner, said he understands the confusion, but traffic at the shop has dropped approximately 90 per cent since Sunday.
“Would you believe we only had four cars yesterday? We did less than $200 when we usually do $10,000 to $15,000 a day,” he said, adding he’s been getting phone calls from people wondering of the U.S.-Canadian border is open.
He says sales have dipped to less than $1,000 since last week.
“We were counting on the spring break traffic,” he said. “Everyone in the travel region’s business is affected, so we just have to ride with it. It’s a serious crisis, and, hopefully, it won’t be for too long.”
As the death toll from the new coronavirus reached at least 31 in Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday ordered that all public and private K-12 schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties be closed for six weeks.
King County announced Thursday that it has confirmed 36 new cases, bringing the region’s total to 270. Snohomish County also reported an increase from about 75 to 108 since Wednesday. The statewide total topped more than 400 in more than 12 counties by Thursday afternoon.
