Coronavirus: New economic group could help save mom, pop shops in North Sound

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Washington — Plenty of mom and pop shops are anxiously awaiting word on when they can reopen, and a new economic group could help save them.

“We’ve never been through this before, but we’re trying to do our best,” said Mohamed Elshabik, manager of JD’s Market in Lynnwood.

Elshabik’s store is on an economic island.

“There is no trucking,” he told KIRO 7 News. “We are having a hard time getting our stuff from California or from other states. This is our fear now.”

According to Elshabik, not only is it a struggle to keep his shelves stocked, but he also cannot rely on nearby stores for customer traffic.

After all, many of his neighbors have temporarily shut down.

"Nothing is open, there is no trucking, so there are a lot of struggles,” he said.

To keep Elshabik’s store, and so many others afloat, Snohomish County recently set up a group to help small businesses succeed.

The new “Office of Economic Recovery and Resiliency” started meeting two weeks ago.

As talk heats up about reopening the economy, the group has been exploring ways to make life easier for struggling mom and pop shops.

“We’re focused here at the county with aligning with the state, but also get folks together to think about what we can do, as we open up, to help people,” said Dave Somers, executive of Snohomish County,

Already, the group is talking about extending construction and business permits for certain industries, as well lowering fees and costs associated with operating businesses.

Mohammed says he’ll take any help he can get.

“It’s not easy being here every day in this situation,” he said. “We are here. We are scared and we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

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