BY LUCIE KRISMAN
Local restaurant employees are doing what they can to adapt to new public health guidelines issued Wednesday that restrict their businesses to carryout, drive-thru and delivery services.
Dairy Queen Manager Goldana Shrum said the adjustment has been difficult, but the restaurant is making do as they adjust. Dairy Queen has closed its dining room and changed to only drive-thru and curbside pickup but has made no change to regular hours.
“I have a limited amount of employees to work, and right now we’re not in the groove,” Shrum said. “It’s just a whole different groove around the store.”
Subway employee Miranda Mori said these changes are affecting employees and customers alike.
“My hours have been cut more than half,” Mori said. “This week I’m only working 10. Here at Subway, we do have a lot of people who like to come in and sit. It’s affecting our customers as well.”
Subway has implemented an hourly sanitizing checklist and designated spaces for people to stand six feet apart. It will now have reduced hours from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Other local eateries making adjustments include:
Gambino’s Pizza will now be delivering during lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in addition to their normal evening hours from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. They will not offer a buffet or salad bar for the time being.
Zeb’s Coffeehouse will offer curbside pickup only for orders placed by phone or through their Rewards app from 6 a.m. to noon.
Jasmin's has switched to only carryout orders and removed all silverware or anything customers could touch from the tables.
At the state level, Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bipartisan bill into law Thursday that extends unemployment eligibility for workers who started to file unemployment insurance claims on or after Jan. 1, 2020.
These workers would be eligible for a maximum of 26 weeks of benefits, instead of the current effective maximum of 16 weeks.
The Eudora Chamber of Commerce sent an email to its members Thursday with a message of support and other assistance plans.
Chamber President GW Weld encouraged businesses to embrace technology and learn new ways to continue to serve customers through online ordering, video calls and delivery.
He also advised that the Small Business Administration’s disaster relief loan program is expected to open to Kansans in the coming days.
Weld recommended business owners should create user accounts at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ in case they need to apply for assistance.
He also noted the Chamber is in contact with Douglas County’s Disaster Response Team in regard to economic matters and will provide updates as new programs and solutions come available locally.
“Although this is an extremely trying time, and like nothing we've ever experienced, it won't last forever,” Weld wrote. “We will get through this, and the Eudora Chamber is here to help you.”
Are there changes to your business that you would like us to report? Email us at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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