Several Mercer County business owners say this latest shutdown will have them operating in 'survival mode.'

"Everything comes down to sales and how people are going to react to this," said Ron Martin, Owner of Smoky Martin's BBQ in hermitage.

The restaurant recently opened in June and projected sales continue to fall short.
Now, like other dine-in restaurants and several other businesses in Pennsylvania, they've been told to close their doors temporarily. Only allowed to provide to-go and outdoor dining.

"I basically took my paycheck out of this. I'm not being paid, I haven't been being paid, so we're basically just trying to keep the employees going and try and keep the building going," said Martin.

At Vey's Pub in Sharon this will be the second time around they've had to shutdown their dine-in business.

"It's christmas time and I'm going to have to make some very difficult decisions. We're going to have to limit hours and lay people off," said Owner Tom Ristvey.

Even though carry-out remains an option, restaurant owners say it's not enough.

And for those in Mercer County, as a bordering community, competition is just on the other side of the state line.

"Ohio is still open. You can still sit in a bar in Ohio," said Ristvey. "Around the time Ohio opened back up the last time, our numbers dropped severely because folks from PA were going to Oio and I don't blame them."

 But, not all businesses plan to comply with the state's latest mandate.

"P.R.E.P Training is open 24/7/365 and it will remain that way for the foreseeable future," said Joe Joseph, Owner of P.R.E.P Training and Fitness Systems.

The gym defied the state orders in the spring, and Joseph said they plan to remain open this time as well.

"I have to keep my lights on and my bills paid. There's just no, ifs ands, or, buts about it. We don't have a choice, they're not giving us any solution or any type of help," said Joseph.

And even though P.R.E.P Fitness was cited in the spring, the owner tells 21 News those citations were eventually dropped and they did not face any consequences.

Now,  Congressman Mike Kelly is calling for the Governor to lift this latest lockdown. Saying, "He (Governor Wolf) has guaranteed that more hard working Pennsylvanias will lose their jobs as additional small businesses will close permanently."