I’m seeing a lot of commentary in my feed about how bars and restaurants are contributing to our current spike in COVID cases. Health experts and elected officials appear on the news every night telling viewers to avoid them at all costs. A lot of blame is being laid at our feet.
Have you considered why these establishments are even open right now?
Guess what?
It’s *NOT* because we think it’s a great idea.
It’s mind-bendingly difficult to run a restaurant or bar right now. We’re managing safety precautions, adapting to an ever-changing array of state guidelines, making sure guests are compliant, and struggling to fill tables even at less than 50% capacity. We grapple with the ever-present fear one of our staff will become sick. While our employees are masked, once guests sit down, they are not – so we are taking a risk every time we approach a table. And every aspect of our business is more labor-intensive.
We are open because we are hemorrhaging money and doing everything we can think of to stanch the bleeding. We are open to keep our staff employed because they can’t survive on basic unemployment. We are open so our musical community has a chance to make some money.
But at the end of the day, it feels like we are just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
The virus is surging again and we should all stay home. No argument.
So I’m going to ask the obvious question –
Where is the financial support that allows us to do that? Because if the government is not providing that help, what you’re really telling us is that we have to sacrifice our business… permanently.
As I’m typing this, I’m listening to a press conference with our county executive telling people not to visit restaurants except for takeout. Not every establishment can make that work, including ours. I cannot package up the 443 experience and deliver it to you curbside.
Trust me, I would if I could.
Our leaders are encouraging people not to patronize desperately struggling local businesses…but they are not offering a solution for surviving without customers coming through our doors. You can’t have it both ways.
There is no end in sight to the COVID crisis and the stimulus package that includes aid for independent venues, independent restaurants, and small businesses is *STILL* stalled in the senate. This is appalling and shameful. Our industry employs millions of people across the country and we have been hung out to dry. We will not survive the winter without significant dedicated aid.
So if you’re tempted to rail against restaurants, bars, and even the people kind enough to patronize them right now, consider what we are up against.
“Don’t go to restaurants” is not a viable plan unless you’re looking forward to living without your favorite eateries, neighborhood pubs and small music venues. There IS a better solution, one that keeps everyone safe AND gives businesses a fighting chance. It’s currently languishing in Congress as if there is no particular urgency to saving businesses that form the very fabric of our communities from permanent extinction.
If you want to keep the public from going into restaurants, give the restaurants the aid they need to close without risking everything they’ve spent their lives working for.
Yes, COVID is serious, scary and real. So is putting millions of people out of work and watching thousands of businesses go under. We shouldn’t have to choose between public health and putting food on our own tables at home.
We have shut down our business for the third time in 2020 – and we’re terrified this time it might be for good. We need federal aid and we need it NOW.