Weathering the Pandemic
Pictorial Feature for Sac Mag April 2022
Weathering the Pandemic | Photos and Story by Ryan Angel Meza for @sacmag (April Issue - 2022)
Many small businesses took a beating during the past two years. Some of the luckier ones remained open, and a few flourished.
In spring 2020, we witnessed a shift in the atmosphere as the pulse of Sacramento ceased—venues closed, education and after-school programs halted, businesses boarded up and whole streets took on ghostly qualities. To some, it felt like an apocalyptic nightmare. People who serve the community in various industries were affected—and some worse than others.
The set of images presented here depicts the faces of a few who are grateful to the community for its continued loyalty, which granted them the ability to stay in business.
I sought out smaller mom-and-pop style shops because small businesses drive a large portion of our nation’s gross domestic product—the lifeline of America. “Small business” drives the culture and lifestyle of a community.
Fresh Green Cleaners
Sam Hong is the owner of two Fresh Cleaners, one located in downtown (19th Street) and the other serving the Natomas community (W. El Camino). Much of Hong’s business relied on the day-to-day bustle of downtown workers, however, due to closures and previous stay-at-home orders, many have yet to return to work. Hong remains optimistic despite a 60% drop in sales and limited staffing to help manage his dayto-day operation. As a former “Best of Sac” recipient (2017), Hong hopes the community would consider using his services again.
Location
Fresh Green Cleaners
1500 W. El Camino Ave
Sacramento, CA
Shasta Smith is the owner of the Vintage Monkey and The Altar Room, formerly located on 16th street. The pandemic caused a loss of 60 percent of her business, forcing Smith to relocate to a new location in East Sacramento, 65th street.
Smith still maintains her vintage motorcycle restoration shop and continues to offer an “intimate” event venue for patrons to rent out.
These photos were taken in Smith's "micro-museum" (The Altar Room) of antique motorcycles and natural history--full of great conversation pieces, curiosities and antiquity which is now next door to the restoration shop (Vintage Monkey).
For those interested in visiting, “The Altar Room” which hosts curiosities, oddities, old world history and a hand full of personal antique motorcycles; it is open exclusively on Saturdays from 11am-5pm.
Located at: 3045 65th Street, Suite 6 in Sacramento, CA
** Please note: The Vintage Monkey restoration shop is NOT open for general public walk-through. **
