It only took weeks to unravel
what an immigrant from Chile spent his livelihood creating in Wall Township, after nearly
four decades in business. The coronavirus pandemic put an immediate halt to the
dry cleaning and tuxedo rental business.
Pat the
Tailor helped make three generations look good, but that may all end because of
COVID-19.
“We lost also the schools, closed for prom season and wedding
season and the dry cleaners because people don’t come for cleaning things, they
stay home,” says Pat Villarroel.
A reality has set in for the owner and his wife,
Omaira -- despite being deemed an essential business, the lights remain
darkened inside the showroom, a small effort to save whatever money he can on
electricity.
“I leave the lights off to save
money,” says Pat. “All of this is completely out. As you can see, nobody comes, the empty spaces outside.”
They've exhausted their loans, PPP monies, and if
a new loan doesn't get approved soon, Pat says after 38 years, his tailor
business will be over.
“It wiped me out. Yes,” says Pat. “Although we have a few grants and the PPP
and the whole loan from ACA, it's not enough because people don't come to pick
up clothes from here. In March, the end of February and March, they don't come
and pick up, so it's very hard.”
Pat says the dry-cleaning side continues to
suffer because why would anyone need a pressed suit and shirt for a Zoom call from home. Pat says he
has the funding to stay open through the end of the year, but without a loan
and without any changes with COVID-19, there's simply no way he can survive
another prom less spring.
The small, yet successful, shop for 38 years in the Colfax Plaza could very
well become another victim of the pandemic.