News

Restaurant Roundtable: Local restaurants speak about hardships during COVID-19 pandemic

MIAMI VALLEY — It’s the cold hard fact in an industry that prides itself on serving piping hot food. Restaurants in the Miami Valley and around the country have lost as much as 90 percent of their business during the pandemic shutdown.

“I can’t believe it’s been only two months, it seems like it’s been the whole year,” El Meson owner Bill Castro said. “I think we still have so much more to go. I don’t think we’re out of the woods yet.”

Four local restaurateurs joined our online roundtable with a great deal of optimism, even though they can’t welcome customers inside for another two weeks.

“I feel like the customers are going to trust who they trust,” Roost Italian owner-chef Dana Downs said. “I don’t think they are going to go outside of their box. We’re going to have a lot of regulars, we’re not going to have a lot of people say, “hey let’s try that place.”

Owners say the are going to abide by the new rulesto re-open, but it’s also up to the customers to do their part by showing up…and protecting themselves and those around them.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that it’s a safe place to come and eat,” Watermark co-owner Maria Walusis said. “We do hope for everybody’s continued support and this isn’t going to be over on the 21st when we get to re-open.

0
Comments on this article