Although COVID-19 continues its economic disruptions globally and locally, the general outlook for the remainder of 2021 is upbeat due to the holiday retail season. KLCC checked in with a Eugene bakery for their perspective.
The National Retail Federation projects holiday spending will surpass 2020’s figures, with sales growing by between 8.5 -10.5%. While that estimate does not factor in restaurants, businesses like Noisette Pastry Kitchen will feed shoppers, and provide decadent fare for holiday gatherings and celebrations.
Tobi Sovak and Michael Landsberg own Noisette, which was teeming with activity behind the counter, as workers kneaded, baked, and decorated a variety of foodstuffs.
“It’s going to be our busiest quarter, it always is,” said Sovak. She added throughout the pandemic, they’ve adapted and found ways to keep going, even after halting their catering service and sectioning off their dining space for storage.
“We just took our first Thanksgiving order, without even advertising it,” added Landsberg. “So pumpkin pies, apple pie, pecan pie, some savory hand pies…people are clamoring to get their orders in already.”
A Eugene Chamber of Commerce official said that optimism jibes with what she’s hearing.
Bakeries in general have had the benefit through the pandemic of already being set up well for takeout,” CEO and president Brittany Quick-Warner told KLCC. But she added many area businesses still struggle with staffing issues and are also hoping for in-house dining to resume.
Overall COVID cases are on a steady decline, though surges remain possible as more people frequent holiday gatherings and the colder weather drives them into more confined spaces indoors.
Copyright 2021, KLCC.
