Las Cruces business owners who must stay closed are ‘disappointed’ with governor’s decision

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Beginning Friday, the Land of Enchantment moves towards the "slight reopening" of the state. Businesses like retail, call centers, and "big box" stores have received the green light from Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham to open at a limited capacity. Not on the list, restaurants or salons.

Small business owners, including restaurant and salon owners, in southern New Mexico who are not able to open are frustrated and were disappointed to learn after weeks of anticipation that they would have to stay closed or be limited to curb-side service.

Salon owner Roberta o'Brien told ABC-7 that she has not be able to receive state funding. She said thankfully that the owners of the Ramada Hotel in south Las Cruces, where her salon is located, are allowing her to skip her rent payments.

"I'm not only getting (hit hard) once as a nail technician, I’m getting it twice as a salon owner and not being able to pay my rent, or charging booth rent on my renters. I'm getting hit as a spa owner because I can't make commission and I’m getting hit as a boutique (owner) as well," O'Brien said.

O'Brien was making preparations to open back up on May 15, and so was Marci Dickerson, owner of Las Cruces restaurant 'The Game.' In Doña Ana County, there are 879 restaurants and Las Cruces takes up 652 of them.

"Now we don't know," Dickerson said. "I think the frustrating part was that we don’t have a date to open, she said it could possibly be early June."

For now, the biggest concern is stay afloat. Come early June, both owners say critical decisions about whether to go out of business could have to be made if they are told to remain closed.