‘It’s an overwhelming feeling:’ Richmond’s water crisis leaves workers and business owners struggling

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A week of uncertainty and economic strain continues for businesses and workers in Central Virginia as Richmond grapples with a prolonged water crisis. Now on the fifth day since a major outage at the city’s water treatment plant, the challenges faced by the local community are mounting, with no clear resolution in sight. The crisis has forced numerous businesses to close their doors, including Brave Captain, a newly opened restaurant in Richmond. Co-owner Herbie Abernathy said the decision to stay closed wasn’t easy, but prioritizing safety in light of the ongoing boil-water advisory was paramount. “They know that, A, we’re going to make the right decision concerning our staff and concerning the public at large and, B, when there’s room for us to make it happen again, we’re going to be back open,” Abernathy explained, referencing conversations he’d had with his employees. Abernathy co-owns three restaurants in Richmond -- Brave Captain, Hot for Pizza and Cobra Kabana -- all of which have remained closed since Monday. While the closures have disrupted business, he emphasized the importance of waiting until the water supply is deemed safe. The situation has been emotionally taxing for him and his staff. For employees like Zade Cypert, who has worked at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) for three years, the crisis has turned an already tight financial situation into a stressful balancing act. The unexpected work stoppage has led to a week of canceled shifts and lost wages, forcing him to make difficult choices to get by. “It is very much an overwhelming feeling not being able to do anything, and I hate not being able to do anything,” Cypert said. “Being able to sit down and be like, ‘I can make sure I have something to eat right now, I can make sure I sleep right now.’ Stuff like that, in the midst of a storm — no pun intended — can really help,” Cypert said. Cypert shared that he’s already had to cut back on essentials like groceries in an effort to pay his bills by the end of the month, though he isn’t confident that will be enough. For many workers in similar positions, the lack of income has created uncertainty about how to cover basic expenses and maintain financial stability. Meanwhile, business owners like Abernathy are navigating the dual challenges of the water outage and an incoming snowstorm, which could further complicate reopening efforts. “Even if for some reason you could open right now and it snows at 8 o’clock, then you’re going to have to close for who knows how long,” Abernathy said. “So, we’re just going to try our best. Hopefully, tomorrow that boil advisory will be off and we can have the place open so our staff can work and the community comes out to support us.” The financial toll of the crisis has been heavy for both businesses and employees. Abernathy said he hopes city officials will explore ways to support local businesses, such as grants or reduced water bills, to help offset the losses incurred during the prolonged outage. "All you can do is make the best decision concerning you and your business and the safety of your employees and patrons," Abernathy said. City officials have announced that water service has been restored across Richmond, but a boil-water advisory remains in effect, requiring all residents to boil water before consuming it. Until the advisory is lifted, businesses like Brave Captain remain in limbo, waiting for the all-clear to reopen and resume operations. For now, the city continues to weather the storm — both figuratively and literally — as residents, employees and business owners alike hope for a resolution to a crisis that has upended daily life and livelihoods.