Economic Development Recovery and Resiliency Playbook - Flipbook - Page 90
Case Study:
Pandemic Resilience
Cos&Pi Pivots for Positive Results
Like many other eating establishments, the South Pasadena
restaurant Cos&Pi was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Launched in 2015 by husband-and-wife owners Casey Wiele
and Xochilt Perez, the neighborhood eatery was a growing
business before the pandemic started. Cos&Pi had built a
loyal following of local and Greater Los Angeles-area food
aficionados who were drawn to the couple’s made-from
scratch menu. The restaurant grew in size to 10 employees.
In March 2020, Cos&Pi experienced a major business jolt
when Governor Gavin Newsom announced a statewide
shelter-in-place order. Initially, many anticipated it would last
a few weeks at most, but several months passed. In June,
counties were allowed to begin letting some businesses open
with restrictions; however, following a spike in infections,
Governor Newsom announced on July 13 a statewide
temporary stop to several types of business activities,
including indoor dining.
Rolling With the Punches
The spring and summer of 2020 found Casey and Xochilt
pursuing multiple forms of local, state, and federal disaster
assistance. Significant relief came from the first round of the
new SBA-administered Paycheck Protection Program, which
provided critical working capital. Casey and Xochilt pivoted
to a take-out model, adopting on-demand web and mobile
food service delivery systems despite significant concerns
about the tools’ fees and operational demands.
The remainder of the summer and fall of 2020 was an
exceptionally challenging period as Casey and Xochilt
devoted intensive time and efort to ensure the safety of their
staf, adopt an efective online and app sales strategy, and
navigate the shifing local health ordinances — in addition
to dealing with other pandemic-related issues, such as the
sudden shif to remote learning for their teenage sons.
As relief programs began sunsetting toward the end of
2020, Casey and Xochilt sought other forms of assistance.
These included launching a successful GoFundMe campaign
and participating in a viral #12DaysofTakeout social media
campaign during the 2020 winter holidays, which provided
earned media for the restaurant. In January 2021, Governor
Newsom lifed most stay-at-home orders; mass vaccinations
began in Los Angeles County in the spring. By May 2021, Los
Angeles County had moved into the state’s least restrictive
yellow tier that allowed for indoor dining at 50 percent
of capacity.
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CALED | Economic Development Recovery and Resiliency Playbook
Cos&Pi owners Casey Wiele and Xochilt Perez adapted their
business practices in response to the pandemic.
Pivoting to Adapt Produces
Positive Results
In early 2022, nearly two years afer Governor Newsom’s
first shelter-in-place order, circumstances had changed
dramatically for Casey and Xochilt, who are concerned
about the rollover of high costs. When Cos&Pi returned
to indoor dining, many patrons preferred to enjoy their
meals in the restaurant’s outdoor dining patio, converted
from part of its parking lot, but uncertainty caused by the
Omicron variant of the coronavirus caused an increase in
take-out orders. This uncertainty is an ongoing source of
concern for Casey and Xochilt.
A significant portion of Cos&Pi’s revenue is now generated
through online orders and partnerships with other local
businesses. In terms of revenue, business has never been
better; however, like many other restaurants, Cos&Pi is
struggling to add kitchen and frontline staf. The stafing
shortage is impacting customer service, which also
concerns the husband-and-wife team.
Despite the long hours and ongoing risk that new
operational challenges will continue to arise, Casey and
Xochilt are cautiously optimistic. While it is clear that
business will never return to the way it was in 2019, they
believe that Cos&Pi still has an opportunity to prosper.
Casey and Xochilt feel better prepared to face the current
challenges than they were in 2020.
