Starting Your First Business During A Pandemic

By Ben Kieffer,

Rick Brewer

Published September 3, 2020 at 4:53 PM CDT

The Felker family own and operate Prairie Kitchen Store in Iowa City. — The Felker family owns and operates Prairie Kitchen Store in Iowa City.

You leave a well-paying, secure job to open your own store. And then, your timing is terrible. The pandemic strikes and retail is upended. On this River to River podcast, hear the story of Susan Felker and how her family started their first business as the coronavirus pandemic began.

Host Ben Kieffer askes Felker to recount the story of opening her business when the pandemic began in late March early April. Also, Lisa Bates of the Iowa Retail Initiative offers advice to retailers and envisions the future of retail shopping in Iowa.

Guests:

Susan Felker, co-owner, Prairie Kitchen Store in Iowa City

Lisa Bates, community development specialist at Iowa State University Extension and head of the Iowa Retail Initiative