SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — From the street, Point Loma's Blonde Voyage Salon looks like yet another establishment lost to the coronavirus economy. Its windows are completely covered by brown paper, and the door is shut.
But on the other side of those coverings, it's very much business as usual.
"I have the right to at least fight for my business," said owner Meagan Crowell.
Crowell said she could not stomach another closure. She said she only got a $3,000 federal Paycheck Protection Program loan, and no other stimulus benefits to help get through.
"I have two kids," she said. "They are two and four years old and I'm not going to sit back and allow them not to eat."
Crowell says she takes the virus very seriously - and that she dipped into her savings to make her salon COVID safe and keep the lights on. But those efforts are still not enough for the governor's new shutdown order, which says salons must close as ICU capacity continues to decrease.
And other than two clients rescheduling, Crowell says she's completely booked.
"I want you to always love the person you see in the mirror, and I think mental health is a huge, huge issue," she said.
Meanwhile, the county has served nearly 30 restaurants, bars, gyms and religious organizations with cease and desist orders since the shutdown took effect Monday. Crowell's salon is not one of them.
Also on Friday, Bernardo Winery announced it would defy the order and reopen for socially distant on-site dining this weekend, saying in a statement it is basing the decision on its employees, who have suffered amid the shutdown.
Under the order, restaurants are limited to takeout only, while bars, wineries and salons must close.
Gyms and religious organizations can operator outdoors.
Retail can stay open at 20 percent capacity.