CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — From small family restaurants to national retailers, closures have become a daily occurrence during this world health crisis.
Most bars and restaurants in the Coastal Bend remain open. However, some national chain restaurants are closing their doors and laying off wait staff.
Manuela Jimenez started working at a local buffet restaurant two weeks ago, but when the coronavirus epidemic got worse she was laid off.
She wasn't out of work long though.
Jimenez quickly found a server position at a downtown Corpus Christi restaurant.
"This was supposed to be they were closing down because of the coronavirus,” she said. “And now, I'm here.”
Santos Garcia is the general manager at La Playa by the Bay. He says even though business has slowed due to the coronavirus, he is still hiring server like Manuela.
"We are being optimistic that we are going to pick up,” Garcia said. “We are still hiring (for) every position."
And although business isn't great right now, Garcia says he'll stay positive until the customers come back.
"You have to be in this industry,”
If you are laid off, there is good news.
According to Texas Workforce Solutions, there are currently 7,000 open jobs in the Coastal Bend area. Employers are looking to hire RNs, retail employees and restaurant servers.