CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Opening a business is always a challenge, but opening a business during a pandemic is uncharted territory.
Off The Wall on Main Street in Park Ridge is the coffee and craft beverage companion to Beer On The Wall, a craft beer and spirits store that's been open since 2016.
Owner Ryan Tracy said business openings are always chaotic.
"When you're opening a business, the first six months, you're putting out fires every day," Tracy said.
Off The Wall opened in late 2019. Tracy said the first months were the equivalent of running on a treadmill. He said it was a struggle to keep up and he added that he welcomed Governor Pritzker's Stay at Home order when it was imposed in mid-March.
"While at first we were happy to have the time off to reset and recharge, we ended up scrambling more as we tried to reopen and figure out a new business model," Tracy said.
Tracy said Off the Wall was the result of conversation with Beer on the Wall customers, who were interested in drinks beyond beer, whiskey, vodka, and gin.
"We had a lot of customers who were asking for more wine. We had coffee service in the morning, but we wanted to add espresso," Tracy said.
He wants Off the Wall to be the last stop before the Metra station across the street, but commuters are creatures of habit.
"They know they have to be out the door at a certain time, and they're going to make a left turn at this time, and they're going to be at the platform and stand right here. To break that pattern when someone has been doing for 5-10 years is very difficult," Tracy said.
Off the Wall has coffee and espresso, along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic craft drinks. Some of their specialty drinks include kombucha, craft pop, and hot chocolate.
Tracy made national headlines over the summer when he closed Off the Wall and Beer on the Wall so employees could have a mental health day after weeks of conflicts with customers over policies regarding face masks and dogs on the patio. Tracy said the day off worked on two fronts. Employees got time off to rest and recharge, and the customers got the message.
"We haven't seen a whole lot of issues as far as people fighting us on masks and fighting us on dogs outside on the patio. I think everyone kind of settled down a little bit," Tracy said.