April 23, 2020
Real World Suffering from Shutdown
Timothy Birdnow
Yesterday I had to take my father to his physical therapy. Since I was going to have to pass St. Louis' wonderful Italian neighborhood anyway (The Hill) I had my wife call ahead to Cunettos, one of the old landmark restaurants.
It was a sad thing. I pulled up in front of the building (something utterly impossible when it is normally open) and the owner came to a table she set up in the doorway. She looked exhausted and was; she and her husband were running the entire carry-out show. She told me she had had to lay off her entire staff, and this was a very bad thing because they not only lost pay but their health insurance (which Cunettos paid). She felt horrible about it; these people had been with them for years and were like family. So they were gone and she and her husband were trying desperately to not close their doors. They had a very limited menu so they could keep up.
She also said people are getting very cranky and she's had more than a few earfuls from customers. She looked at me and asked "what am I supposed to do? We can't have the staff on but we can't run a full restaurant without them." I had the sense she was about to throw in the towel and close. I doubt they would reopen if she does.
At any rate, this is just one more family business on the brink. How many are going to close for good thanks to this?
Yesterday I had to take my father to his physical therapy. Since I was going to have to pass St. Louis' wonderful Italian neighborhood anyway (The Hill) I had my wife call ahead to Cunettos, one of the old landmark restaurants.
It was a sad thing. I pulled up in front of the building (something utterly impossible when it is normally open) and the owner came to a table she set up in the doorway. She looked exhausted and was; she and her husband were running the entire carry-out show. She told me she had had to lay off her entire staff, and this was a very bad thing because they not only lost pay but their health insurance (which Cunettos paid). She felt horrible about it; these people had been with them for years and were like family. So they were gone and she and her husband were trying desperately to not close their doors. They had a very limited menu so they could keep up.
She also said people are getting very cranky and she's had more than a few earfuls from customers. She looked at me and asked "what am I supposed to do? We can't have the staff on but we can't run a full restaurant without them." I had the sense she was about to throw in the towel and close. I doubt they would reopen if she does.
At any rate, this is just one more family business on the brink. How many are going to close for good thanks to this?
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
06:40 AM
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1
Here's hoping they have enough loyal customers that will return once things "get back to normal" -- if they ever do. Martha and I are using some of our UI money to get takeout from our favorite sushi restaurant tonight after Happy Hour via Zoom with my daughter and her kids in Estes Park. I bought a bottle of sake awhile ago. And within a few days we'll do the same at out favorite fish-and-chips joint.
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at April 23, 2020 02:00 PM (9yEgJ)
2
That's "OUR" favorite sushi restaurant. Happy to say they're doing a pretty good take-out business, as a number of people were there to pick up food, and a few picked up really large packages of it! We enjoyed ours, although it was not as much fun as watching the experts prepare it in front of our eyes at the sushi bar. But professionally-prepared sushi is great anywhere. And the sake I bought went down well, especially as we had a microwave handy to heat it with.
Before that, Zoom Happy Hour was enhanced by the addition of my older daughter and her partner. This darn lockdown has prodded citizens to explore the available technology, and I think it's been a positive thing. I expect that both of my daughters and I will continue to schmooze this way from time to time, especially since getting out to Colorado just ain't in the cards.
Before that, Zoom Happy Hour was enhanced by the addition of my older daughter and her partner. This darn lockdown has prodded citizens to explore the available technology, and I think it's been a positive thing. I expect that both of my daughters and I will continue to schmooze this way from time to time, especially since getting out to Colorado just ain't in the cards.
Posted by: Dana Mathewson at April 23, 2020 11:01 PM (S3Uvu)
3
Glad to hear the sushi place is doing well - and you guys too!
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at April 24, 2020 06:59 AM (klXJ7)
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