To help offset an approximately 50% drop in business, Blue Corn Harvest Bar & Grill, located in the Village in Cedar Park shopping center, began offering curbside service over the weekend. Two parking spaces in front of the restaurant March 16 were reserved for curbside customers.
Several states have closed bars and dine-in services for restaurants, but no such restrictions have happened in Texas yet.
Santos Garcia, one of Blue Corn Harvest's owners, said March 16 it will allow people hesitant to dine inside to still order food with minimal human contact. All they need to do is view the online menu and call the restaurant to place an order, he said.
"We are taking all the precautions and following the health department's recommendations for cleaning," Garcia said.
Garcia said the restaurant is also taking extra steps for sit-down customers, such as more frequent and thorough sanitizing of menus and other high-touch places. During the lunch hour March 16, approximately six tables were occupied—well below a normal lunch crowd, Garcia said.
Several doors down at Thundercloud Subs, area manager Nolan Moreno said there was a slight dip in business, but it was not as large as other restaurants.
"I'm looking for it to happen, but it hasn't yet," Moreno said. "I think the fact that they can watch us make their order makes a difference."
Moreno said there was an uptick in online orders being delivered by third-party companies—and a dip in older customers.
"There weren't as many elderly folks over the weekend," he said.
In Leander, many restaurants are “business as usual” and have not altered opening times or seen any changes in food shipments. Restaurants have added extra sanitary precautions and provided hand sanitizer for customers.
Cherry Creek Catfish Co., located at 11840 Old FM 2243 W., Bldg. A, Leander, is remaining open with takeout options. General Manager Jess Melisz said weekend business was slower, and March 16 lunch service had about half as many customers as usual.
“We’re doing everything we can to stay open,” Melisz said.
Smokey Mo’s BBQ, located at 11880 Hero Way W., Leander, is running as usual with more preprepared food items and limited seating areas, said Alfred Garza, a district manager.
Garza said Friday and Sunday were busy like usual, but Saturday had much less customer traffic.
At Casa Costa Bake Shop in Leander, owner Katie Fujita said customer traffic did not change too much over the weekend, but March 16 traffic was slower than usual. She said the bakery will remain open for now, but plans to add curbside delivery are underway. Employees at another coffee shop, Black Sugar Caffe at 1310 Cypress Creek Road, Ste. 100, in Cedar Park, said business March 16 was also slow.
Mouton’s Southern Bistro, located at 309 N. Hwy. 183, Leander, has not altered its food service, but the restaurant is aiming to seat customers at least one table apart. The restaurant will also reopen its drive-thru window as soon as possible, owner Ben Mouton said.
General Manager Tracy Hamilton said sales were definitely down over the weekend. The weekend was very slow at the restaurant. Hamilton said the restaurant can still offer food through Uber Eats, GrubHub, online ordering or by phone.
“Until we’re told to shut down, it’s business as usual,” Hamilton said.
Moreno encouraged customers to support local restaurants.
"We're open for business, and we're certainly taking every precaution," he said.
