PULLMAN, Wash. — Businesses in Pullman joined the rest of the state on Wednesday as Washington lifts COVID-19 restrictions after 15 months of limited capacity and shutdowns, among other rules.
It's a welcome relief for businesses like Paradise Creek Brewery.
"Getting through this last year has been a challenge with every single, you know, few months, having to change our capacity or our style of business," Jonny Handy, Paradise Creek Brewery General Manager, said. "We've switched from take-out to dine-in to take-out to dine-in a couple of times and now we're doing a combination of both."
Handy said that being back to full capacity means he can also bring more employees back.
"Allowing us to go to full capacity is allowing us to get our full staff back in, allowing us to really be the best that we can be and the most efficient we can be with the increased businesses and everything," Handy said.
He added that the brewery hasn't had any trouble finding people to work. In fact, with the full reopening causing the brewery to open more positions, he said he already had multiple interviews lined up for the positions.
All of this comes just months before the influx of students coming back to Pullman as Washington State University returns to in-person instruction in the fall. The Palouse will also be seeing the return of the Cougar faithful as Martin Stadium reopens to full capacity for football games.
"With students coming back next year, and Martin Stadium's going to be at fully capacity I guess now too, we're actually going to have a good football season this year I think, and the amount of big weekends we're going to have is going to be night and day because we didn't have those for the last two years now almost," Handy said. "So yeah, it'll be fantastic for us."
Handy also said the historic heat wave currently scorching the Inland Northwest has helped business, as people try to find some relief from the heat and a way to limit the power they use at their homes.