Nationally, 68.4 percent of small businesses in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry reported that the pandemic has had an overall large negative effect for them, according to Small Business Pulse Data gathered by the U.S. Census from August 9-15.

Pine Apple Company is a small art shop and gallery in Buffalo's historic Allentown neighborhood, and like so many nonessential businesses, it shut its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Mickey Harmon, one of the shop’s six co-owners, said that this moment will inspire a new renaissance.

“You appreciate your life because you’re not in a hospital bed asking for a respirator, so I think that’s going to spur a lot of creativity and civil unrest as well mixed in with all that I think we’ll see a lot more people getting active in the arts,” he said.

The shop reopened its doors on July 25 after months of being closed and serves as a place for local artists to showcase their work. 

It has also adapted to COVID-19 pandemic requirements by including hand sanitizers, Plexiglas at the check-out counter and six-feet distancing marks to maintain social distancing.

“During and after the pandemic, I think everybody — artists and not artists —  had [the] time to reevaluate their life, what they want out of their life, what they value in their life,” Harmon said.

The shop is open Wednesday-Sunday, 12-6 p.m.

To learn more about Mickey Harmon’s artwork, visit his Instagram or to learn more about Pine Apple Company, visit their Instagram.