FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Nicole Walcott’s lip started to quiver as she turned her misty gaze away from a reporter’s question. “I don’t want to cry on camera,” the 33-year-old said when asked why she’s fought tooth and nail to keep her small business open amid a pandemic that’s crushing countless others.Three years ago, Walcott, a U.S.
Army veteran, opened an alternative health and wellness center in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a short drive from Fort Bragg, one of the largest military installations on the planet.It was going well, but then COVID-19 hit — a phrase that has defined the stories of so many small businesses in 2020.