Local restaurant feeling the effects of the Coronavirus
Written by WZND Newsroom on March 15, 2020
Photo courtesy to Medici Facebook page
NORMAL, Ill.- Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Sunday that all bars and restaurants in Illinois will not be open to the public.
This will begin at the close of business Monday, March 16 through March 30.
However restaurants may continue to remain open for delivery, drive-through and curbside pick-up orders.
How will this effect Normal local business?
Well, they are already feeling the pressure of business decline and now complete closure will bring many challenges to local restaurants.
One general manager shared the expectations and the effects of this outbreak.
General Manger of Medici in Normal Joe Slane said, “The closure will effect our business dramatically. This past week, we have already seen our business drop in half.”
The Medici in Normal is a full service restaurant and bar located in the heart of Uptown Normal.
Located blocks from Illinois State University, The Marriott Hotel and Conference Center and Normal City Hall.
Slane said, “We are hoping that we can continue enough business through carry our and deliveries, over the next few weeks.”
“This will, at the very least, cover some losses that we will incur.”
Medici hopes this will minimize the waste of products that have already been purchased and prepped up.
As far as staffing, Medici has 90 part time and full time employees that will be on temporary lay off.
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