Governor Beshear continues to stress the importance of ‘staying apart’ as one key way to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Many businesses are feeling the hard economic hit including all kinds of eateries.
When asked about the effects of coronavirus on restaurants across Kentucky, the head of the industry’s umbrella organization called it a quote, “massive and terrifying time”. Kentucky Restaurant Association CEO Stacy Roof. “They’re just trying to do what business they can in a limited capacity, but they don’t know how they’re going to get through this,” said Roof.
By governor’s orders, Kentucky restaurants are closed to sit down patrons. Roof said takeout orders, even if brisk, aren’t enough. “They need the parking lot to be full and that parking lot to turn several times for each meal period. It may look a little busy, but it’s not near what it needs to be for them,” explained Roof.
Roof said some 200,000 employees typically work in Kentucky restaurants. She added thousands of those employees are not working now.
Roof noted some restaurant operators say their business is down 80% compared to just a few weeks ago. The restaurant association president says gift cards and higher than normal tipping can help these eateries with cash flow. She suggests buying gift cards directly from the restaurant.?
