COVID-19 Impacts – Are US Escape Businesses Closing Again?
The situation has been dynamic over the past few weeks making it difficult to pick a point in time to provide an update. While many businesses have reopened, the effects of going back to a new normal became obvious. Several states have reversed course in various degrees with the intent to maximize our safety and this has had a significant impact on businesses, including restaurants bars, and escape room businesses.
As mentioned in our June article, as of June 12th, more than 7.7 million cases around the world have been confirmed with more than 2 million in the US. As of July 26th, those numbers have climbed to 16.1 million and 4.2 million respectively.
Health experts speculated on the causes of the uptick in cases. Lifting lockdown restrictions, isolated outbreaks, and the virus catching up to communities previously not impacted were offered as a potential explanation. Contribution from the large protests as a contributor continue to be a subject of debate.
States response to the uptick has varied. Some have reversed course on reopening while others are attempting to minimize health impacts while allowing businesses to remain open. With the new school year approaching, states are also wrestling with the best course of action to keep children and families safe while continuing to provide education.
One interesting detail is that there may have been a shift in the affected age groups. New York noted a significant risk in COVID-19 cases for 21 to 30-year age group and provided this YouTube video. This may, in part, be due to some individuals who question the reality or the significance of the situation or simply a strong desire to return to their recent lifestyle and social behavior.
Like any other business that has faced closure from this pandemic, escape rooms are no exception. It comes down to being able to pay the rent, employees and expenses associated with development and maintenance of the rooms. Breakeven points and profit goals will be stretched due to reduced revenue. To help keep the business going with a fraction of the cashflow, many business owners are negotiating a reduced rent with their landlords for the next 6 – 12 months. Many landlords are willing to negotiate as they are in the same boat – reduced income versus no income.
Gregory Slossar, owner of Escape Room in Concord New Hampshire, sums up the situation quite well:
“No matter how safe it is, it’s about the customer and their perception of the risk,” Slossar said. “The majority of people just don’t want to be in any environment where they’re inside, that’s not their home. I have the same feeling myself – if I go out to a restaurant I sit outside.”
“In the past, we’ve been getting $200 per game, now we’re looking at $60 per game,” Slossar said. Coupled with the fact that there are fewer games being offered each day, revenue is down about 75% at Escape Room. Most of the games being played are from returning customers — hardly anyone new is walking through the doors”.
“I might just pull the plug,” he said. “We’re making enough money to pay rent, but it’s nothing like it was. I don’t want to run games just to pay rent and stay alive.”
Being an entertainment venue makes it difficult from two perspectives. First these businesses are not considered “essential” and typically will be in the last group to reopen. Second, communication continues to be difficult from local governments. The California Department of Health had one of the clearest guidance for closures, but several of the other states’ guidance that I reviewed while preparing this article left me scratching my head as to what businesses were or were not being allowed to stay open or reopen.
For escape room players, in addition to playing excellent escape room games such as Thames & Kosmos EXIT games, there are several online / play at home games offered by escape room businesses. I will highlight several of them throughout this article. If there are any I missed, please contact us and I will be sure to add them!
Let’s look at the 10 highest-populated states and summarize where things are at with COIVD-19 and how it’s impacted escape rooms. The data for the graphs are from Data World, and latest confirmed case estimates (as of July 26th) are from the COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center of Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at John Hopkins University (JHU). The graphs were generated a few days ago, so the numbers in the graphs will lag the June 26 values.
1. CALIFORNIA
As the state with the largest US population, California was doing quite well as compared to other states such as New York in keeping the curve flat. If you will recall from our March article, there was concern that 25.5 million residents, 56% of the state’s population, would get the virus by the end of May. This illustrates the uncertainty that our health experts face – it is evident that the science just isn’t there yet to be able to predict pandemic outcomes with any true sense of accuracy and the variables which involve human interaction are too complex to predict. Thankfully this estimate did not materialize.
The bend in the curve around the end of June is cause for continued concerned and continued vigilance for combatting this pandemic. California has passed New York in the total number of confirmed cases and still does not appear to have reached the inflection point (point where curve changes from concave to convex and the number of new cases per day starts to noticeably decline). This increases the difficulty of estimating the number of predicted cases (predicted curve on the graph). As of July 26th, there are ~448.2k confirmed cases which is currently the highest of the US states.
Timeline:
- March 19: An Executive Order (PDF) and Public Health Order (PDF) directed all Californians to stay home except to go to an essential job or to shop for essential needs.
- April 30: Concerned after seeing thousands of people on beaches in southern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom is ordering a hard closure on beaches in the Orange County area.
- May 4: An Executive Order (PDF) informed local health jurisdictions and industry sectors that they may gradually reopen under new modifications and guidance provided by the state per the May 7, 2020 Public Health Order (PDF).
- June 12: Approved counties were allowed to reopen gyms, hotels, restaurants, bars, wineries, family entertainment centers and other businesses with additional guidelines. Music, TV and film production resumed.
- June 18: The state health department announced that the state’s roughly 40 million residents must cover their faces in “most settings outside the home.” The department issued a Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings.
- July 1: The governor ordered bars and indoor dining at restaurants to close in most areas of the state for the next three weeks amid a surge of new coronavirus cases throughout California. The revised stay-at-home order affected 19 counties where roughly 40 million people live — including Los Angeles County.
- July 13: The governor ordered the statewide closure of all bars and halted the indoor operations of restaurants, wineries, theaters and a handful of other venues.
- July 15: According to this article, 60out filed a legal action against Los Angeles County health officials, alleging they were ordered to close under threat of criminal action amid the coronavirus pandemic without the opportunity for a hearing.
- July 21: According to this article, Los Angeles’ mayor and the county’s top health director have acknowledged a connection between protests and the region’s increased COVID-19 cases. This article also states the experts also say the spread of the virus in Los Angeles was already growing before the protests started as businesses reopened and family gatherings resumed.
All individuals living in the State of California are currently ordered to stay home or at their place of residence, except for permitted work, local shopping or other permitted errands, or as otherwise authorized.
Many escape room businesses had to reclose. Of the 289 California escape rooms in our database, approximately 29% are showing to be permanently closed, four of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following California businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
60out
Black Market Escape Rooms
Cross Roads Escape Games
Enchambered
Escape Room L.A.
Escapology
Hatch Escapes
Mob Accountant
MPower Escape
Red Lantern Escape Rooms
See Me Escape
The Escape Game Irvine
The Escape Game San Francisco
Trapped!
2. TEXAS
As you can see from the graph, Texas was also doing quite well as compared to other states such as New York in keeping the curve flat prior to reopening businesses. You can see a distinct upward bend in the curve near mid-June. At this pace Texas will soon pass New York in the total number of confirmed cases. Texas does not appear to have reached the inflection point on the curve. As of July 26th, there are ~390.2k confirmed cases.
Timeline:
- May 6: Restaurants could offer dine-in services at 25 percent capacity.
- May 22: The state entered its second phase of reopening. Bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls and rodeo events were allowed to open with additional guidelines, including occupancy limits.
- June 3: The state entered its third phase, which allows businesses operating at 25 percent capacity to move to 50 percent, with certain protocols still in place. Bars can move to 50 percent capacity, if people are seated, and restaurants can now sit 10 people to a table. The third phase also allows amusement parks and carnivals in counties with fewer than 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus to reopen at 50 percent capacity.
- June 12: Restaurants increased to 75 percent capacity.
- June 12: According to this article, public health officials raised the possibility of a spike in COVID-19 cases after people have gathered to protest against police brutality.
- June 19: Amusement parks and carnivals in counties with more than 1,000 confirmed cases could open at 50 percent capacity.
- June 26: The governor shut down bars again and scaled back restaurant dining.
- July 2: The governor issued a statewide mandate requiring Texans to wear masks in public in any county with 20 or more positive covid-19 cases.
- July 7: The Texas Education Agency released guidance for the upcoming school year that says it will offer in-person and remote learning, and that it will leave it up to parents to decide. Masks will be required in schools, and “all students, teachers, staff, and visitors coming to campus must be screened before being allowed on campus.”
As of July 25th, it appears that businesses can remain open, but should follow the minimum recommended health protocols. Restrictions continue to apply to restaurants and bars.
Of the 151 Texas escape rooms in our database, approximately 16% are showing to be permanently closed, ten of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following Texas businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Breakout Games Dallas/Plano
Conundrum Escape Adventures
Escape Hunt Houston
Lockout Austin
Strange Bird Immersive
The Escape Game Austin
The Escape Game Dallas
The Escape Game Houston
3. FLORIDA
Like California and Texas, Florida was also doing quite well in keeping the curve flat prior to reopening businesses. Again, you can see a distinct upward bend in the curve near mid-June. It does not appear that Florida has yet reached the inflection point. As of July 26th, there are ~414.5k confirmed cases.
Timeline:
- June 5: Most of the state moved into the second phase of reopening. Bars, theme parks, bowling alleys and other recreational venues with approved social distancing measures in place could open in 64 of Florida’s 67 counties. Florida’s three counties hit hardest by the virus — Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — had yet to meet the state’s bar for reopening.
- June 25: This article depicts the concern about spread of COVID-19 from students on spring break noting that the highest impact seemed to come from students who traveled by plane to their destinations, especially to high-risk areas of Florida and New York.
- June 26: Due to a spike in new coronavirus cases, the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation announced it would close bars statewide.
- June 30: According to this article, The director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County Dr. Raul Pino said that COVID-19 patients were not asked whether they participated in protests. Pino indicated that he believed the correlation between the rallies and the recent record-high number were not a coincidence.
- July 6: The mayor of Miami-Dade County said he would re-close restaurant dining rooms, gyms and many other businesses. The order became effective July 8. Restaurants will be allowed to serve customers only via delivery and takeout.
- July 11: Disney theme parks began reopening with additional guidelines.
Of the 177 Florida escape rooms in our database, approximately 11% are showing to be permanently closed, none of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following Florida businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Daytona Escape Room Experience
Escape Hunt
Escape Room Vero Beach
Escape-topia
The Escape Effect
The Escape Game Jacksonville
The Escape Game Orlando
4. NEW YORK
As you all know, New York had the unfortunate role of being the first state to deal with the rapid spreading of COVID-19. The increases in confirmed cases and demand on health resources illustrated how scary COVID-19 is. They have done an excellent job of dealing with the virus as the above graph shows. As of July 26th, there are ~411.2k confirmed cases.
Timeline:
- May 29: The governor said five regions entered the second phase of reopening, which allows nonessential retail businesses and personal-care businesses at 50 percent capacity with additional guidelines.
- June 8: New York City began the first phase of reopening. Stores previously deemed nonessential were cleared to reopen for delivery and curbside pickup.
- June 22: New York City started the second phase of reopening, which allows restaurants and bars to open for outdoor service with additional guidelines. Several businesses, from offices to indoor retail reopened with conditions. Malls, indoor dining service, large event venues, gyms, casinos and movie theaters, among other businesses, remained under shutdown
- June 17: Seven of the state’s 10 regions entered the third phase of reopening. In Phase 3, gatherings of up to 25 people are allowed, restaurants can resume dine-in services at 50 percent capacity and additional personal-care businesses such as tattoo facilities and nail salons reopened with additional guidelines.
- July 1: The governor said indoor dining at New York City restaurants will be delayed, while outdoor dining can continue.
- July 6: New York City entered the third phase of reopening, which allows personal-care businesses such as nail salons and tattoo parlors to reopen at 50 percent capacity. Seven of the state’s 10 regions are in the fourth phase of reopening.
- July 16: The governor announced a set of measures tightening restrictions on the state’s bars and restaurants.
- July 19: According to this article, NYC’s COVID-19 contact tracing will ask about outdoor dining, but not whether the individual attended a protest.
Governor Cuomo has partnered with New Jersey Governor Murphy and Connecticut Governor Lamont to create a joint travel advisory for individuals traveling from states with significant community spread of COVID-19, requiring a quarantine for 14 days when visiting their states.
Like Florida, of the 100 New York escape rooms in our database, approximately 11% are showing to be permanently closed, none of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following New York business(es) by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Challenge Escape Rooms
Puzzle Break Long Island
Queen City Escape
The Escape Game New York City
5. PENNSYLVANIA
As you can see from the graph, Pennsylvania appears to have done a better job battling COVID-19 though they too have experienced a distinct upward bend in the curve near late-June. The number of confirmed cases compared to the state’s population, as well as the slope of the bend (as evidenced by the predicted curve which hasn’t shifted upward like California, Texas, and Florida) are better than the previous states discussed. As of July 26th, there are ~111.1k confirmed cases.
Timeline:
- April 27: The governor announced certain businesses related to outdoor activities, such as golf courses, marinas and campgrounds, would reopen May 1.
- May 1: The governor announced the reopening of 24 counties beginning May 8, as part of his phased, color-coded plan. Large gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited. Gyms, spas, hair salons, nail salons, casinos and theaters remain closed. Restaurants and bars were still limited to pickup and delivery. In-person retail is allowed in those counties.
- May 15: 13 more counties moved from the red to the yellow reopening phase.
- May 29: 17 counties moved from the yellow to the green reopening phase and eight counties moved from red to yellow. In the green phase, restaurants and bars can reopen at 50 percent capacity. Personal care services could reopen at 50 percent capacity, along with all entertainment, including casinos and theaters. Philadelphia is one of the eight counties still in the red phase.
- June 5: The remaining counties moved to the yellow reopening
- June 12: 12 more counties moved to the green reopening phase, giving the state 46 counties at that level and 21 in the yellow phase.
- June 19: Eight more counties moved to the green phase.
- July 1: Masks were required for anyone who leaves their home.
- July 2: Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, ordered bars, restaurants and casinos to close for in-person services. Gatherings and events of more than 25 people were not allowed.
- As of July 25th, masks must be worn whenever anyone leaves home. Masks are mandatory in all public spaces.
Pennsylvania is utilizing a three-phase matrix to determine when counties and/or regions are ready to begin easing some restrictions on work, congregate settings, and social interactions. View Governor’s Wolf’s phased reopening plan for Pennsylvania.
Of the 113 Pennsylvania escape rooms in our database, approximately 19% are showing to be permanently closed, four of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following Pennsylvania businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Breakout Pittsburgh
Expedition Escape
The Escape Game King of Prussia
6. ILLINOIS
Illinois shows a higher initial growth rate of new cases in the early stages as compared to California, Texas, and Florida, surpassing 100k in mid-May. The curve shows a slight upward bend in the curve in late April, and then a second bend in early July. As of July 26th, there are ~171.1k confirmed cases.
Timeline:
- May 29: The state began the third phase of its reopening plan, which allowed nonessential businesses, such as in-person retail businesses, to reopen. Gatherings are limited to 10 people. Face coverings in public are required. Bars and restaurants are only open for pickup and delivery. Chicago began the third phase on June 3.
- June 26: The state entered the fourth phase of its reopening plan. Restaurants could offer dine-in services with limited capacity. Gatherings of 50 people or fewer were allowed.
- July 15th: Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health announced a new COVID-19 mitigation plan focused on combating a resurgence of cases will maintaining the progress the state has made towards bending the curve over the last four months.
- July 20: The mayor of Chicago announced new restrictions on bars, gyms and personal-service businesses. Effective July 24, alcohol-serving establishments without a retail food license will no longer be able to serve customers indoors.
- July 24: Governor Pritzker issues and updated Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation.
Of the 97 Illinois escape rooms in our database, approximately 7% are showing to be permanently closed, none of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following Illinois businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
7. OHIO
As you can see from the graph, Ohio has two noticeable changes, one in mid-April and the other in mid-June. Except for Georgia, the slope has remained relatively flat as compared to the other states. It’s difficult to tell whether Ohio has reached the inflection point. As of July 26th, there are ~83.2k confirmed cases. Of the 10 states discussed in this article, Ohio has the lowest count.
Timeline:
- May 12: Retailers could reopen.
- May 15: Restaurants and bars began offering outdoor dining dine-in services with additional guidelines.
- May 21: Bars and restaurants began offering dine-in services.
- June 10: Entertainment spaces reopened with additional guidelines. Aquariums, art galleries, country clubs, ice skating rinks, indoor family entertainment centers, indoor sports facilities, laser tag facilities, movie theaters, museums, playgrounds, public recreation centers, roller skating rinks, social clubs, trampoline parks and zoos are permitted to open.
- June 19: Casinos, amusement parks and water parks could reopen with additional guidelines.
The Ohio Department of Health published Responsible RestartOhio which includes mandatory requirements for services and entertainment.
Of the 73 Ohio escape rooms in our database, approximately 7% are showing to be permanently closed, none of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following Ohio businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Breakout Columbus
Breakout Dayton
The Escape Game Cincinnati
8. GEORGIA
As you can see from the graph, Georgia has one noticeable change in mid-June. Like Ohio, the slope has remained relatively flat as compared to the other states. Georgia does not appear to have reached the inflection point. As of July 26th, there are ~165.2k confirmed cases.
Timeline:
- April 27: Restaurant dine-in services could resume, while theaters and private social clubs could reopen provided they meet specific guidelines.
- May 12: The governor issued an order that extended closures for certain businesses, such as bars and nightclubs, until May 31.
- June 1: Bars and nightclubs reopened with capacity limits and additional guidelines. Gatherings of more than 25 people are allowed if physical distancing is maintained.
- June 16: Gatherings of 50 people were allowed if they remain six feet apart. Restaurants no longer had to restrict the number of people who can sit together. Bars could welcome 50 people — twice as many as before — or 35 percent of total listed capacity, whichever is greater.
- July 16: The governor sued to stop Atlanta from enforcing some of its coronavirus-related rules, including its mandate to wear a face covering in public, even as the state experiences a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.
Georgia’s “shelter in place” orders have expired for most Georgia businesses. However, per statewide orders in effect through July 31, 2020, businesses must continue to operate with social distancing and sanitation rules to keep customers and employees safe.
Of the 59 Georgia escape rooms in our database, approximately 9% are showing to be permanently closed, two of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following Georgia businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Breakout Atlanta
The Escape Game Atlanta
9. NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina does not appear to have any significant bends in the curve, nor does it appear to have reached the inflection point. As of July 26th, there are ~111.4k confirmed cases.
Timeline:
- May 5: The governor issued an order that modified the state’s stay-at-home order to begin easing restrictions May 8. Most retail businesses can reopen at 50 percent capacity. People could leave home for nonessential services. Bars, personal-care businesses, entertainment venues and gyms are among the businesses that remained closed. The order was in effect until May 22.
- May 22: The state entered Phase 2, which allowed restaurants to open dine-in services and personal care businesses such as salons and barbershops at 50 percent capacity. Gatherings are limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Gyms, bars, nightclubs and indoor entertainment such as movie theaters remain closed. The phase was scheduled to last until at least June 26.
- June 24: The governor said North Carolina would pause reopening activity for three weeks and require residents to wear face coverings in public spaces.
- July 2: The governor vetoed three bills that would have reopened gyms, fitness centers and amusement parks more quickly than he had planned. The legislature was also aiming to reopen skating rinks, bowling alleys and other entertainment venues, the Raleigh News and Observer reported.
Of the 88 North Carolina escape rooms in our database, approximately 8% are showing to be permanently closed, two of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following North Carolina businesses by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Breakout Asheville
Breakout Charlotte
Breakout Greensboro
Ctrl Shift Escape
Whole Brain Escape
10. MICHIGAN
As you can see from the graph, Michigan had an early ramping of cases in late-March / early-April. You can see a distinct upward bend in the curve near early-July. As of July 26th, there are ~85.6k confirmed cases. Of the 10 states discussed in this article, Michigan has the second-lowest count.
Timeline:
- April 9: The governor implemented additional restrictions for stores, specifying limits on the number of customers allowed in a store at one time based on floor space.
- April 27: The governor introduced a plan to start reopening the state’s businesses, which she said would be done at an “incremental” pace.
- May 1: The governor signed a new executive order that extended various business closures and the emergency declaration until May 28.
- May 22: Businesses and restaurants in northern Michigan reopened at reduced capacity under a new executive order the governor issued May 18. It allows bars and restaurants to operate at 50 percent capacity, with face coverings required for servers and six feet of distance between customers, as well as social gatherings of up to 10 people. The governor said the existing stay-at-home order affecting the rest of the state will remain in effect until May 28 unless decreases in the rate of new cases and deaths and increased testing indicates it is safe to revise them earlier.
- May 26: Retail stores and auto showrooms reopened by appointment only and with a limit of 10 customers at a time.
- June 1: The governor lifted the state’s stay-at-home order and moved the state to Phase 4 of its reopening plan. Up to 100 people can gather outdoors, though with distancing. Restrictions on indoor gatherings remain in place, with no more than 10 people permitted. Face masks are still required in enclosed public spaces.
- June 4: Retailers were permitted to reopen with capacity limits.
- June 8: Restaurants and bars were able to serve customers on-site with capacity limits.
- June 10: Northern Michigan entered the fifth phase of the reopening plan, which allows salons, movie theaters and gyms to reopen with reduced capacity.
- July 1: The governor closed indoor service for bars in part of the state.
- July 10: The governor signed an executive order that toughened the state’s existing mask-wearing requirements, most notably with a change that orders businesses to deny service or entry to those who refuse to cover their face. The order went into effect July 13 and mandates that anyone over 5 years old is required to wear a face covering when indoors at any public place, as well as when they are in crowded outdoor spaces and cannot consistently maintain six feet of social distancing.
- July 17: Governor Whitmer Strengthens Executive Order on Masks
Of the 82 Michigan escape rooms in our database, approximately 7% are showing to be permanently closed, two of which closed after the last ranking (February).
You can support the following Michigan business(es) by playing their online games from home or purchasing their merchandise:
Clueless Escape Rooms
Out of the Box
SUMMARY
In summary, it appears that most escape room businesses are “hanging in there”. Some reclosures are occurring, primarily in California.
As the adage goes, “only time will tell” which may be highly dependent on how quickly a vaccine can be developed, approved, and distributed. The above charts are illustrating that we can limit the impact of COVID-19, but eliminating the potential for spreading this virus/disease, especially when trying to limit the economic crisis and reopen businesses, is proving to be extremely challenging.
You can help these businesses – if each of us chose at least one business (whether in one of these states or from the state where you reside) and purchase an online game or one of their products, this will go a long way to helping them recover!