- Title: Coronavirus outbreak in Seattle threatens restaurant industry
- Date: 15th March 2020
- Summary: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES (MARCH 14, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EMPTY RESTAURANT INTERIOR AND KITCHEN RESTAURANT OWNER RYAN SUDDENDORG WALKS THROUGH RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (English), RYAN SUDDENDORF, OWNER/CHEF - ARRIBA CANTINA & BOARD MEMBER, SEATTLE RESTAURANT ALLIANCE, SAYING: "Last night was our last night of service. On February 29th, once the news broke about a case of Covid, the first death in the state of Washington, our sales dropped by over 60%, and continued to drop over the course of that entire week, to the point where we were forced to make the difficult decision to close permanently." VARIOUS OF SUUDENDORG SHOWING EMPTY WALK-IN COOLER (SOUNDBITE) (English), RYAN SUDDENDORF, OWNER/CHEF - ARRIBA CANTINA & BOARD MEMBER, SEATTLE RESTAURANT ALLIANCE, SAYING: "The question I've been asked all week is "Well, how much money do you need to get through this?" My question back to them is, "Well, how long is this going to last. When is this going to be over? When will people go back to their normal consumer spending patterns?" And the answer to that question doesn't exist." SIGN THAT READS "PUBLIC MARKET" IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE WORKERS THROWING FISH INSIDE A STORE IN PIKE PLACE MARKET CARS ARRIVING AT PIKE PLACE MARKET VARIOUS OF "LOCAL 360" CLOSED RESTAURANT SIGN THAT ANNOUNCES THE CLOSURE OF "LOCAL 360" EXTERIOR OF "STEELHEAD DINER" SIGN ANNOUNCING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF "STEELHEAD DINER" SIGN THAT READS "ETTA'S" PEOPLE WALKING PAST "ETTA'S" SIGN ON THE SIDEWALK THAT READS "ETTA'S - SEATTLE'S FAVORITE SEAFOOD SPOT" EMPTY CHAIRS AND TABLES OUTSIDE ETTA'S VARIOUS OF REFLECTIONS OF TABLE VARIOUS OF AGRODOLCE RESTAURANT EXTERIORS VARIOUS OF CHEF THOMAS LITRENTA AND SOUS-CHEF IN PASTA PREP ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English), THOMAS LITRENTA, OWNER/CHEF, AGRODOLCE, SAYING: "We're kind of taking it day by day, week by week. You know, we're trying to stay open as long as we possibly can. Unfortunately, it means cutting back on our labor staff and possibly having to look at letting some people go, which is one of the last things we want to do, you know." VARIOUS - THOMAS LITRENTA AND SOUS-CHEF EXAMINING TRAYS OF PASTA (SOUNDBITE) (English), THOMAS LITRENTA, OWNER/CHEF, AGRODOLCE, SAYING: "We're also offering 10% discount for people who come in and dine with us. We're also going to start doing to-go food, more to-go food, I should say. We're going to start partnering up a lot more with UberEats, Caviar and Doordash, those kind of things." VARIOUS OF SUDDENDORF ARRANGING LIQUOR BOTTLES IN BAR OF RESTAURANT (SOUNDBITE) (English), RYAN SUDDENDORF, OWNER/CHEF - ARRIBA CANTINA & BOARD MEMBER, SEATTLE RESTAURANT ALLIANCE, SAYING: "Seattle is a world-class city known for its restaurants and, unfortunately, once we get through this there's going to be a lot of restaurants that aren't going to make it." SIGN INSIDE THE RESTAURANT THAT READS "THANK YOU FOR A GREAT YEAR" SIGN THAT READS "ARRIBA CANTINA" "OPEN" SIGN TURNED OFF
- Embargoed: 29th March 2020 15:03
- Keywords: COVID-19 Kirkland Seattle business chef coronavirus restaurants
- Location: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
- City: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001C55WRIF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Weekend brunch should be one of the busiest times of the week for any restaurant. But Arriba Cantina has just closed for good Saturday (March 14), another victim of the United States coronavirus outbreak, which erupted near Seattle in Washington state.
Owner and chef Ryan Suddendorf said sales dropped by over 60% after news of the first coronavirus-related death in the state of Washington broke on February 29. Sales have continued to drop since the outbreak in Washington states forcing Suddendorf to shut down his restaurant permanently. The last night of business brought in just enough revenue to pay the 12 employees who have now lost their jobs.
For Suddendorf, who has opened 19 restaurants, this is the first time he had to shut down a restaurant.
"The question I've been asked all week is "Well, how much money do you need to get through this?" My question back to them is, "Well, how long is this going to last. When is this going to be over? When will people go back to their normal consumer spending patterns?" And the answer to that question doesn't exist."
At Seattle's world-famous Pike Place Market they are still throwing salmon but there are far fewer tourists or locals coming to sample its fares.
"Local 360" has been drawing visitors and locals for 10 years but canceled bookings, the likelihood of a very poor summer tourist season and possible mandatory quarantine led its owners to decide to close for good.
Elsewhere, restauranteurs are closing for what they hope will be just 2-3 months, putting thousands out of work.
Some chefs like Agrodolce's chef Thomas Litrena are determined to weather the storm, but staying open comes at a cost.
"Unfortunately, it means cutting back on our labor staff and possibly having to look at letting some people go, which is one of the last things we want to do, you know."
Where once he had no problem tempting customers through the door, now he's having to be imaginative and try new things, including offering 30% discount to restaurant workers, including those now not working,
"We're also offering 10% discount for people who come in and dine with us. We're also going to start doing to-go food, more to-go food, I should say. We're going to start partnering up a lot more with UberEats, Caviar and Doordash, those kind of things."
For Ryan Suddendorf at Arriba Cantina, it's too late, and he fears many others will also never re-open.
"Seattle is a world-class city known for its restaurants and, unfortunately, once we get through this there's going to be a lot of restaurants that aren't going to make it." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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