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Photo Essay: A Barren City Grace Peng, Managing Online Editor

Prior to Georgia’s official reopening, the streets of Johns Creek look drastically different than those during normal times. Popular spots visited often by students are vacant, most only open for drive-thru. Even with restrictions lifted, streets are emptier than before as more people social distance.

Here is a selection of photos taken with safety precautions of usually busy, well-known areas around the city and what they look like now.

Northview Campus

Let's start on campus. The track and football field, usually alive with game, is now eerily quiet.

Students, teachers, and coaches were forced to abandon campus on March 12. Spring sports are perhaps the biggest victim of this abrupt end to the year, disappointing many hopeful student athletes who have trained year long for their season.

The traditional senior nights for each sport, like so many other school events, were also cancelled. However, the administrative staff and junior class council have worked together to ensure that seniors nonetheless get the send-off they deserve, ranging from car parades to video montages.

"I've seen what we are capable of. We are the only beings on Earth gifted with the power of language and action."

- Patrick Wang, valedictorian

Community

The H-Mart Complex

Right behind Northview is the Super H-mart grocery complex, a hub of small businesses and food stores that are almost part of the school itself. The frequent dinner-grab of students that is usually bustling with parents doing their weekly grocery shopping is now near empty.

Save for a manager, a few employees, and the occasional emergency supply shopper, H-mart's usual filled-up parking lot now barely holds more than 10 cars.

The required social distancing and lockdown guidelines have driven a serious change in both the physical and business scene of H-mart. The lack of consumers has not only created a massive drop in demand, but also forced businesses to sacrifice as they struggle to maintain a steady supply and profit.

After a long club meeting or sporting practice, H-mart's food court served as the go-to place for a warm meal that represented the diverse cultures that made up Northview. Today, however, chairs that once invited guests to enjoy an authentic Asian meal are now stacked up. All vendors are completely closed, and perishable supplies are required to be disposed of or consumed elsewhere.

The lack of customers means that for these vendors, there was no profit source, and therefore no way to pay back supply costs or support family.

H-mart's meat and fish supply has also taken a toll. Its normal wide array of free samples are now gone due to COVID-19 guidelines.

The small businesses that surround H-mart - clinics, eye doctors, bakeries, and more - have all taken to selling masks and hand sanitizers as a last resort to making profits, hoping to capitalize upon the spike in demand for COVID-19 safety products.

Gyms (LA Fitness)

The first quarantine rules meant that all gyms were forced to close. Popular chain gyms such as LA and Lifetime fitness posted signs such as the one shown right.

The abandoned pool at LA Fitness is one example of this trend. Many gyms have been forced to re-arrange membership plans and offer alternate programs, such as virtual workout sessions.

Some gyms, however, have been allowed to open, but with strict social distancing guidelines. These include staying strictly six feet apart and installing plastic protection devices.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital

Next up is the Emory Johns Creek Hospital (EJCH), the premiere hospital in the area. Like all hospitals across the nation, EJCH has seen multiple waves of COVID-19 patients. Its crowded parking lot is the only one of its kind in town.

Doctors and nurses work around the clock to keep up with the spike in coronavirus victims. Signs such as the ones shown below are implemented to boost morale and express appreciation from the community to hospital workers.

Encouraging signs are posted outside Emory Johns Creek Hospital, cheering doctors and healthcare workers as they fight on the frontlines.

Emory Healthcare began a video series, asking individual employees to recount their experience working in the face of COVID-19. Here, Hannah Henry, the vice president of operations, explains her role.

"While COVID may not impact your life in a negative way, or while even if you contract COVID-19 it may not be a devastation to your own health, by not protecting others from COVID, we are devastating the most vulnerable of our community."

- Hannah Henry, Emory Johns Creek Hospital

Businesses

Hubs of small businesses and chain branches line the roads of Johns Creek. Usually, if they are not full of Northview students struggling to cram a study session, they are filled with families enjoying a night out. However, COVID-19 has put a pause to this regularity.

From bars like Abbot's Bar and Grill (shown above) to entire complexes such as Medlock Crossing (shown below), the community is strangely quiet.

Despite debates still swirling around on the reopening of movie theatres, Medlock Bridge Crossing’s Regal remains completely abandoned.

Many food vendors have resorted to online orders with pickups and deliveries or drive-thrus. Indoor seating was barred by health restrictions, and with virtual ordering alone, many businesses have had to change their marketing strategies as well.

Divine Coffee, one of Northview’s most popular gathering places, has locked its doors in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Only its drive-thru remains open.
A line of stores at Johns Creek Village, a popular shopping complex.

Starbucks has resorted to drive-thru only, and Salata and Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream each have completely closed off their stores. Both the latter food stores are recent additions to the line of businesses.

The intersection by Johns Creek Village.

Grocery Stores (Kroger)

Perhaps the pandemic's biggest victim - aside from its massive social and mental toll - is toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels. The tendency of many to hoard supplies has resulted in empty shelves and store-required limits.

The local Kroger is only an example of these trends. Along with other Krogers across the nation as well as competing massive chain stores such as Publix and Ingles, grocery store supplies reflect the transformation in public attitude.

Like toilet paper, many have begun hoarding eggs. Quarantine has also seen the rise in sales of baking supplies as many people begin cooking and baking more at home.

Eggs, surprisingly, along with bread and meat products, have followed the trend of toilet paper. Another similar item is frozen foods; the longevity of their shelf life means that families can go a long time without leaving the house for food.

Bread, chicken, and frozen foods have also seen a spike in demand.
Pictures of empty toilet paper and tissue shelves are flooding the Internet, and Johns Creek is no exception. The few tissue boxes are all that is left of the supply at Kroger.
While the paper towels have been completely emptied, stores are attempting to ration the remaining hygiene supplies. As a result, baby wipes and diapers are limited to 1 per customer.

The Tunnels

Between the local Panera and Starbucks, there lies an underground tunnel that connects the two busy rows of stores that line Medlock Bridge Road. The tunnel is a staple gathering place, as well as every pre-teen's favorite Instagram photo spot during the day.

The Johns Creek community has clearly seen the impacts of the pandemic. But it has shown resilience and strength in the face of the most desperate of times. With the support of each other (through the many Zoom calls that are needed), we strive to pull through these troubling times.

All photos by Grace Peng.

Credits:

Grace Peng

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