STILL SERVING: Restaurants working to meet guidelines, prevent spread of COVID-19 coronavirus

Published 8:30 pm Tuesday, March 17, 2020

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As the coronavirus continues to play havoc around the world, local restaurant owners are doing what is necessary to keep their businesses open and their customers served.

However, it’s not business as usual.

Denise Tempelis, owner of The Pig Café on North Three Notch Street, said “the Pig” is open as usual but it is not business as usual.

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“Right now, those who work downtown are mainly the ones who are continuing to come during lunch,” Tempelis said. “Many of our breakfast customers are school traffic and those going to work. So, breakfast is slow.”

Tempelis said the Pig Café is making breakfast deliveries and will probably begin making lunch deliveries by the end of the week.

The Pig’s catering events are taking a big hit, Tempelis said.

“Because no one knows how long this will go on, our catering events have been canceled,” she said.  “That is really hurting right now.”

Tempelis and her husband, Yanni, own Francesca’s on the square in downtown Troy and it will be open at its regular business hours and will make deliveries.

“We are doing all we can to continue to serve our customers,” Tempelis said.

Ziad Rollins, owner of Flo’s, on Love Street just off the square in downtown Troy, said his plans are to stay open until he has to shut down.

“We were able to move tables so all seating is six feet apart and we are continuing to do what we always do as far as sanitation,” he said. “We are not catering. Because the number of people who gather is limited, we have had some cancellations and postponements.”

Rollins said he is doing all he can to keep Flo’s open and his employees working.

“People need to work,” he said. “We’ll stay open as long as possible.”

The Half Shell, a popular dine-in restaurant for university students and townspeople, is open for business with some accommodations regarding spacing.

Scott Ward, owner, said changes have been made at the bar area and for a several tables in relation to the booths which are separate seating units.

“We are following all the advice necessary to keep The Half Shell open,” he said. “Of course, we are and will be affected by the coronavirus, especially with Troy University being out but then everybody is being affected. We’ll just have to make the best of it.”