Dan Czerpak wondered every day whether opening a barbecue joint in Greensburg during a pandemic was the right move.

He weighed the pros and cons regularly leading up to Pit Take’s opening on March 20, a day after the first two cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Westmoreland County. The months of preparation and investment made up his mind.

“There was really no downside to doing it,” he said.

But some new businesses haven’t gotten the chance to welcome customers.

Tina Tesore was set for a March 30 grand opening of Frenchies Modern Nail Care in Shadyside. But that fell apart when Gov. Tom Wolf on March 19 ordered salons like hers and other “non-life-sustaining” businesses to close.

“It’s just beyond anyone’s control,” she said.

New businesses trying to get a foothold in their market are dealing with unpredictable circumstances, from being shut down to learning how to adapt in a changing environment while the coronavirus pandemic rages. Wolf issued orders that restaurants can continue to operate only through takeout or delivery service.

Businesses like retail stores, hair salons and dry cleaners were forced to close as state officials hope to slow the coronavirus’ spread by enacting stay-at-home orders and encouraging social distancing.

Small businesses make up the majority of firms in Pennsylvania and employed 2.5 million people in 2016, according to the latest figures from the Small Business Administration. Investing in a new business to get it up and running can be a stressful process on its own, but throw in uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus, and the frustration rises to a new level.

Tesore has been working through business planning since August 2018, with the past several months spent on permitting and renovations at her Shady Avenue salon. Now, she’s trying to keep her staffers upbeat while all of her work hangs in the balance.

“It’s constructed,” she said. “It’s ready. I have a team. I have inventory. I have everything.”

Except permission to open.

Robert Buchanan, co-owner of Allusion Brewing Co., has been renovating a 120-year-old building in Vandergrift since September. But he isn’t sure when the state might license his microbrewery and tap room.

“All those checkpoints and signatures and inspections and on-site visits absolutely have a big question mark,” he said. “We were very much hoping to be open by the end of May. As it stands, it’s a big unknown.”

“I can’t answer how long we’re going to be delayed,” Buchanan said.

The Trendy Bunny opened in Greensburg March 6. A week later, the doors at the children’s boutique were locked, said owner Alisha Edwards.

“Unfortunately, it was a lot of money, hundreds of thousands of dollars … and nothing I could’ve done would’ve prepared me for this,” Edwards said.

Renovations for her 4,000-square-foot shop on South Pennsylvania Avenue started in July. Edwards remains positive and, like the others, looks forward to a time when the restrictions are lifted.

“We were open for one week, and it’s been a real hardship,” she said. “I’m not sure how we’re going to recover from this.”

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