He has an app that makes no-contact ordering and paying simple. Taco Billy owner Hunter Berry saw the writing on the wall, switching to to-go only days before it was mandated by the state. "It's a kind of whimsical yet necessary little thing we're doing, and people have been grateful." Vinnie's now sells toilet paper at cost - $1 - with a two-roll maximum per customer. This new world of service in the time of coronavirus also comes with a new perk for customers. "The people supporting us are making it so we're able to feed 40-some odd people, and that's been tremendous." "But I am able to feed every one of our employees one meal a day, every day, for free," he said. Still, the restaurant is barely breaking even. Scheffer has about seven salaried employees making deep dishes of spaghetti with Sunday gravy and lasagna. "It took me a couple of days to pull myself out of my depression and anxiety, and I've gone through some stuff in my life," he said. "But we've been able to keep our heads down and push on through, even though obviously this is like nothing we've ever seen."Ībout 11-13% of Vinnie's nightly business was to-go before the virus hit, so the team already had systems in place. "Last week when it all hit, the stress really crumbled me," said Eric Scheffer of Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian, which has kept a skeleton crew to process up to 100 to-go orders daily. Still, the emotional toll of laying off employees is hitting those who remain. A glimmer of hopeīut there's a glimmer of hope in Asheville's kitchens, even as employees struggle to make ends meet. The association surveyed more than 4,000 restaurant owners, finding sales were down 47% from March 1-22, with seven in 10 having to lay off employees.ĭuring the first 22 days of March, the restaurant industry lost an estimated $25 billion in sales and more than 3 million jobs, the organization estimates. Meanwhile, 44% have temporarily closed their restaurants, and 11% anticipate permanently closing within the next month, the restaurant group said.
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