Rebellion Brewing one of many Regina businesses feeling economic crunch of COVID-19

Rebellion Brewing is one of the Regina businesses feeling the crunch of having to temporarily close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Heise, president and CEO of Rebellion Brewing, said the company had to temporarily close its taproom and lay off 10 of its 28 employees on Wednesday.

“It was the hardest day and hardest thing we’ve ever had to do,” Heise said. “Amazingly, our staff completely understood and they walked out the door smiling. I couldn’t believe it.”

Heise said he and other members of the staff are going to try and chip in to help out the employees who had to be let go.

“That part of the business is gone for good reason — it’s not safe to keep operating these spaces — so unfortunately we have to do what we needed to do to stay afloat and stay buoyant,” he said.

“I’ve offered to all of those folks that I will personally help them take care of bills or food or anything. Some of my other staff went out and bought food hampers for all of them.

“It just shows how great this community is and how great a small business can be. We really stick together.”

He said with things seemingly changing every hour in regards to new measures being put in place to help deal with the spread of COVID-19, it’s an intense time for local businesses.

“This is absolutely unprecedented. There’s no manual or pack on what you’re supposed to be doing right now. It feels like survival of the fittest if that makes sense,” Heise said.

Heise said the biggest problem the company is facing is ensuring its finances are in order.

“That’s the real problem right now — the cash crunch. We’re trying to work with the government and requesting that they can defer payment, taxes and all that sort of stuff,” Heise said.

“Amazingly the bank and our landlord have been more than happy to defer payments. We haven’t heard a heck of a lot from the government and I’m pretty disappointed by that. They’re an important part of the community and they need to step up.”

Heise said he has talked with more than 50 different local businesses about what this is doing to them.

“It’s terrifying. People really need to know that it’s going to be OK and that there’s people in their corner,” Heise said.

Heise said Rebellion Brewing, which is in its sixth year of operation, has a plan in place if things don’t get worse but Heise isn’t holding out hope.

“I think things are going to get worse,” he said. “That’s not a great way to run a business when you literally don’t know how things are going to work out in the next hour.”

Heise said Rebellion Brewing is still selling beer online and will offer delivery. He said the best way people can help out local businesses is do what they can to buy local and if money is tight, just check in on them.

“Giving us a virtual pat on the back, man, that means a lot,” he said.