Restaurant workers and locals alike say that the restaurant experience in the New England area has changed drastically due to Covid.
Some restaurants have been forced to shut down for good, while others have had to significantly alter the way they do business.
According to a recent study from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, 20% of Massachusetts restaurants have been forced to close due to the pandemic. Out of almost 16,000 restaurants across the state, 3,400 have recently closed.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker called the struggles local restaurants are facing “heartbreaking”, but said “It’s part of what comes with Covid.”
Krystal Freitas, 19, who works as a waitress at the Segregansett Country Club’s restaurant in Taunton, Massachusetts, said when the restaurant was first able to reopen during the first phase of Covid restrictions, they had to seat customers outside on their deck, and could only operate at 25% occupancy.
When Phase Two was put into place, they were only able to operate at a 50% occupancy, and had to remove tables in accordance with social distancing guidelines.
Freitas said that these restrictions were tough for the business.
“There was talk every week that we might have to shut down for good. Even our regular customers who still came in would be telling us they hoped we didn’t have to close.”
In the end Segregansett did not shut down, and is now almost back to where they were before the pandemic, said Freitas.
“Thankfully we are still open and doing well. I’d say that recently we have had the same amount of customers daily that we had before Covid.”
Restaurant goers are also noticing a big difference in the overall dining experience before and after the pandemic, and the impact is felt all over New England.
Nolan Carlson, 19, from Seekonk, Massachusetts, said “Micheletti’s Restaurant in my town used to be the spot where people would go to hang out. It was a gathering place. Now it’s takeout only. Now they started using their ice cream window that wasn’t usually open before Covid. They just need more ways to attract customers with all the restrictions.”
Ethan Penn, 19, from West Hartford, Connecticut, said “In my city I think we rallied together to help the restaurants stay afloat. They set up the outdoor dining and takeout, and lots of people still went out and ordered food. I think the cities that don’t care are getting their restaurants shut down, so it is up to the cities to help them stay open.”
Local restaurants are not the only ones being affected by the pandemic, and chain restaurants are also shutting down in large numbers. Starbucks has been forced to close almost 400 stores, while McDonalds is shutting down 200.
Burger King has even put out an ad urging customers to order from McDonald’s, as well as other chain and local restaurants, in order to save these restaurants from going under.
The ad read, in part, "We never thought we'd be asking you to do this, but restaurants employing thousands of staff really need your support at the moment. So, if you want to help, keep treating yourself to tasty meals through home delivery, takeaway or drive thru."
Cam Clark, 19, who works at a Pizza Hut in Woburn, Massachusetts, said that after Covid they implemented new safety measures such as glass shields, social distancing guidelines, and wearing masks, but the way they prepared the food did not change.
However, Clark said the amount of customers in the location did change. “We’ve definitely had way less people come in after Covid than we did before.”
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