Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020
Restaurants and bars are among the businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. Operating on razor-thin margins, the pandemic is taking a toll, so we get an update on how Charlotte’s restaurant and bar scene is coping.
COVID-19 hit lots of businesses hard. Few felt the impact more than restaurants and bars. Our city had built a pretty healthy restaurant and bar scene prior to the pandemic, but these businesses always operate on razor-thin margins.
When they were told to close for months and then open on a limited basis, many began to fail. While restaurants can operate at 50% capacity, bars remain closed, at least until Sept. 11th, and a few restaurants and bars have already succumbed.
What about those trying to hang on? Will they be able to do it? We check on the health of that sector of our economy.
Guests
Greg Collier, James Beard award-nominated chef and owner with his wife, Subrina, of Leah & Louise at Camp North End, and The Yolk at 7th Street Public Market in uptown
Paul Manley, owner of Sea Level in uptown, The Waterman Fish Bar in South End, and ACE No. 3 in the Belmont neighborhood
Bonnie Warford, owner of Earl’s Groceryin Elizabeth. After 30 years, she and her sister Tricia Maddrey closed neighboring Carpe Diem in June.
Jackie DeLoach, owner of Hattie’s Tap and Tavern in Plaza Midwood