Local restaurants suffering during COVID-19 pandemic

As COVID-19 has spread quickly through Grand Island, local businesses have had to make some changes. A Directed Health Measure went into effect on March 28th, which forced Hall County restaurants to close their dining areas and move to take out or drive thru only.

Big Apple Bagels is running their drive through with a smaller staff, less products and, unfortunately, also fewer customers.

"Our sales are about half of what we were receiving before," Co-Owner Shellie Pointer told Local4 News. "I have reduced our workers by half too."

When the pandemic starts to calm down, those workers will be brought back. Pointer says she hopes the customers will come back as well.

"I am worried about building up the clientele up after this is all over with," Pointer said. "When our sales start to get busier and we start to get busier, I'll slowly start to bring them all back."

While times are rough right now, Pointer says she gets through the day by keeping a positive environment in her shop.

"I know we have to be serious in some of our ways, but being light hearted and having a positive attitude is what gets me through each day," she said. "Having great staff, fun staff gets me through the day too."

The tough times don't stop with locally owned businesses, Perkins Restaurants are also facing hard times amid the pandemic.

"The impact of the virus has been pretty devastating on restaurants everywhere," General Manager Rod Rader told Local4 News. "Especially on sit down restaurants."

Perkins moved to carry out only about three weeks ago and say they're down about 80% in sales. With that drastic drop in customers, they've also had to cut some staff. Of 55 employees, 48 have been furloughed and the restaurant runs with only seven people now.

Rader says the pandemic has definitely changed the way they do business and also even just how they prepare their foods.

"We're portioning a lot more items. We've had to cut down on our prep recipes more than half, like by a quarter just because we aren't selling much," Rader said. "It's difficult keeping produce on hand, it's difficult keeping dairy on hand."

In an attempt to help with that and to help their customers, Perkins around the country have started to sell their groceries to the public. They have everything from frozen food, like meats or soups, to paper products, like toilet paper and paper towels.

They say it's a safer option for people who don't want to go inside a crowded grocery store. To place an order, you can call the restaurant at (308) 384-7060.

Both restaurants encourage the public to support their local businesses always, but especially during this incredibly difficult time for them.

Big Apple Bagels is open every day from 6 am to 3 pm.

Perkins Restaurants are opened from 8 am to 8 pm every day.