Ever since things started to open up since quarantine, I’ve been intrigued by the amount of people who are still taking scrupulous precautions. While I certainly understand that there is a lot of conflicting information out there, one thing I don’t quite get are the healthy 20 and 30-somethings whose COVID survival rate is around 99.98% holing up and only feeding their anxieties further. In my humble opinion, it’s not only hurting your mental health, it’s also hurting businesses around you. Here’s Florida’s Governor DeSantis with a visual for you:
I guess I should give some background here; I come from a restaurant family. My dad starting building his business when I was in kindergarten and his life work has become a staple in the Cleveland suburbs. So, while I may sound a bit judgmental, know that the idea of my parents losing my dad’s life work is nothing short of terrifying for me and I know I’m not alone. Perhaps the most iconic restaurant in Cleveland, one that was founded in 1923, announced its possible closing last week. A story that broke in Nashville about a month ago really sparked my desire to be very vocal about supporting your local restaurants because, friends, you’re being lied to. To summarize the Nashville story, a measly 80 Covid cases were traced back to restaurants and bars… and the mayor’s office kept that fact under wraps.
For today’s post, I interviewed my sister who’s working with my dad on the management team. She’s done an awesome job with keeping Cleats all clean and tidy, earning it a 100% Covid Compliance from the Cuyahoga County Health Department.
What precautions are put in place to ensure safe dining?
Every place is different. Cleats has the following precautions in place:
- Mandatory face masks for employees and guests when moving around the restaurant.
- Access to hand sanitizers around restaurants
- Plexiglass dividers between booths and bar stools, dividers between tables
- Single use menus and access to QR Codes
- Curbside carryout
- Increased sanitation measures including nightly cleanings.
- Proper social distancing when waiting for seating or carry out
Have you ever had someone who’s visibly sick come into your restaurant? If so, what did you do?
No issues with symptomatic people coming to the restaurant. Our protocol is to ask the person to leave for the health and safety of all our guests and employees- with a friendly reminder that curbside is available.
Have you had any COVID cases on your staff? If so, how were they handled?
We aren’t comfortable talking about COVID on staff due to our small family of employees. We do not want to disclose any medical information about them. However, the staff are NOT penalized for calling in sick right now.
If someone is afraid to go out to eat indoors (now that the weather is getting chillier), what would you say to them?
Everyone is doing what they feel comfortable with. We encourage people to check us out and see all of the ways we have gone above and beyond for everyone’s safety, but not everyone is going to feel comfortable dining inside quite yet. We encourage these people to support local restaurants with carry out or curbside carry out! (Alcohol is now available for carry out permanently in Ohio!)
Do you think there have been any positive things that have happened because of COVID? If so, what are they?
The good that came out of Covid? It reminded people that you need to support local. We are your friends and neighbors and we need you.
(Brittany again) I do know that not every restaurant is taking the precautions that my dad and sister are, so it’s certainly worth a phone call if you’re uncomfortable. I will say this, though. Jim and I have gone to restaurants, both indoors and outdoors dozens of times since restrictions were lifted and have always felt comfortable! I would encourage you to give it a try this weekend. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
