Winston Salem Times

As many business owners were struggling to survive during the COVID-19 shutdown, some Triad entrepreneurs launched new companies during the pandemic.

One of them was Sean Scott, who opened a coffee shop, the station said.

"So, I'm either completely stupid or genius, so I guess we'll see in about six months," Scott told WFMY News 2 in August.

He closed his coffee shops in Florida and started Known Coffee in Winston-Salem inside Campus Gas, the story said.

"Sean saw tremendous potential in the growing city of Winston-Salem and decided to seed a new vision here," his website tells customers.

In designing the new business, Scott had to make sure there was plenty of room for customers to sit outside, with appropriate social-distancing, and that the inside seat space was limited.

Another entrepreneur, David Robertson, recently opened a cigar shop, The Pipe and Pint, with his father in High Point.

"It was difficult, [and] I know that," Robertson told WFMY. "But, it worked out."

The Robertsons spent eight months renovating a house for their shop, helping to revitalize the neighborhood, the station reported. Demand for cigars has increased during the pandemic, Robertson told the station.

"People are wanting to enjoy their cigars," he said.

The business is fashioned in the spirit of the times, with outdoor seating. Scott is also tailoring his company to the new reality of COVID-19 by offering a coffee subscription service for customers who don't want to leave home.

Both entrepreneurs are looking forward, however, to the time when they can host events and take steps toward operating in a business environment that is closer to normal. Both also want to let other would-be entrepreneurs to know that as tough as the economy is now, it's still possible to launch a successful business, WFMY reported.