More than half of North Carolina's restaurants may permanently close because of COVID-19
https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/mo...rmanently-close-because-of-covid-19/19088709/
Saddled with debt, payroll and mounting utility bills North Carolina restaurants are
struggling to remain open even as the state starts to ease stay-at-home restrictions. Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan to reopen restaurants with limitations beginning May 22, but owners are having to make tough choices right now.
“Every day it gets harder and harder,” said Lou Redas, the owner of An American Table in Rocky Mount.
Only 35% of restaurant owners in the state have indicated that they can stay afloat beyond two months of closing down or offering limited service, according to the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Associations. That two month marker is rapidly approaching. Restaurants in North Carolina shut down around March 17 to adhere to restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
“I think we are going to see a number of restaurants who don’t make it,” said Lynn Minges, the president and CEO of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Associations. “We already are and we are expecting those to continue as this drags on.”
Hotspots like Chuck's Burger Restaurant in Raleigh, known for their community spirit and
creative burgers with avocado, kale and bacon-onion jam, will be closing--taking a little piece of downtown Raleigh culture with them.
[Note: This article does not provide the entire story about Chuck's. It is owned by James Beard Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen - who owns several restaurants. Chuck's was struggling from a business perspective even before COVID-19 showed up. Burger joints do not make the returns that more up-scale venues do. The owner, Ashley Christensen, is merely merging the space occupied by Chuck's as the expansion space for next door restaurant Beasley's which she also owns. Many of the Chuck's menu items including a signature burger, fries and shakes will be added to the Beasley's menu. Christensen also owns Death and Taxes, Poole's Diner, Fox Liquor Bar and Poole'side Pies in downtown Raleigh.]
On Tuesday,
Chuck’s announced via Facebook that it was shutting down permanently.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we announce that Chuck’s will not be re-opening when COVID-19 restrictions lift. This pandemic has been devastating to our industry, and we have spent the last few weeks thinking through solutions for survival, and how to bring our team back to work again,” the post read.