WESTFIELD – An order from Gov. Charlie Baker March 15 reducing all restaurants to takeout only to limit the spread of coronavirus shocked local restaurant owners.
For some, takeout and delivery is an option, for others, it doesn’t make sense.
Almost immediately following the order, Laurie Varelas, owner of Laurie’s Good Table, took to Facebook to let customers know her plans for the coming weeks and offer some tongue-in-cheek advice during this stressful time.
“I have opted NOT to participate in carry out service,” Varelas wrote. “I will be posting periodically to keep our valued guests informed. We will be back. Hopefully sooner than later. I am so sorry for any inconvenience, but I wish you all peace and health. Be nice with the toilet paper please!”
At The Tavern, owner Peter Kantos Sunday night was working on a plan to incorporate takeout service to his customers after getting over the initial shock of Baker’s announcement.
“I was shocked,” Kantos said. “I didn’t see this coming. For the past two weeks we have been extra vigilant about cleaning and brought in additional staff to make sure all surfaces were sanitized.”
Kantos said The Tavern would offer its full menu – including the popular Thursday prime rib special – as takeout meals. He also offered his assistance to the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club in its mission to provide meals to Westfield students while schools are closed.
For Kantos, the most difficult part of the shift from eat-in dining to takeout will be having to temporarily reduce his staff.
“I’m worried about the 50 people who work at The Tavern,” he said, noting that he would not need servers or bartenders while the order is in place.
He did say he believes closing dining services statewide would help stop the rapid spread of COVID-19, he just hoped small businesses would recover.
Circuit Coffee owner Ted Dobek reached out to regular customers Sunday night via email.
“In times like these, we all need some sanity (coffee) and a smile,” he wrote. “We care about you all, so obviously we will be taking all precautions to minimize any contamination. We will keep you posted about hours for the upcoming weeks in accordance with regulations and as things become more clear to us.”
Although Moolicious Farm in Southwick is still closed for the winter, owner Joseph Deedy, also a Southwick selectman, said local bar and restaurant owners would feel this in their pockets, as would their employees, especially those who work part-time and rely on tips.
“No one is writing checks to these employees,” Deedy said. “A big business can maybe absorb those wages, but not small businesses.”
Baker said during his Sunday press conference that waiting periods would be waived for those seeking unemployment benefits because of coronavirus.
Deedy said Moolicious is set to reopen for the season in April and he is currently cleaning and freshening up the restaurant, so the dining-in ban is not affecting him at this point, but he feels for other area businesses.
“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said Sunday night. He fielded numerous calls from concerned business owners and bar and restaurant workers wondering if there was anything the Select Board could do. Deedy said they could not override the governor.
“I don’t think we’ve ever experienced anything of this magnitude here,” Deedy said.
DAWN WHITEHILL
Dawn Whitehill, owner of the Bubble Mug Café, located in The Pottery Cellar at The Mill at Crane Pond, said she would be offering takeout and delivery daily.
“We have fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps, paninis, soups and more,” she said. Whitehill said customers can call ahead at 413-642-5524 and daily specials will be posted on The Bubble Mug Cafe at Pottery Cellar’s Facebook page.
Whitehill said the whirlwind of information surrounding coronavirus has been at the forefront of her mind personally, and as a business owner.
“For the last few days, I have been pondering what was in store for a small place such as mine,” she said. “I was hopeful that we were small enough to meet the social distancing limits and that our guest gatherings at one given time would not exceed limits put in place.”
Whitehill said she would adhere to the limitations brought forth by Baker.
“We will continue to have all of our daily offerings available for takeout and we will add a lunch delivery service effective Tuesday,” said Whitehill. “There was very little time to prepare for a situation like this and as a small business, this is scary. We remain positive and we are certain that our guests will not forget us, and we hope to see them for a takeout pick up or we hear them just to say hello or to place a delivery order. We will always be the friendly behind the counter no matter if you dine in or take out. We also hope to meet some new folks as we navigate our way through the next few weeks.”
Baker on Sunday also banned public gathering of more than 25 people, with some exceptions, including grocery stores. Baker also barred visitors to nursing homes and assisted living facilities and required schools to close statewide from March 17-April 7.
