Restaurants in Central Austin are restricted to drive-thru, takeout and delivery options from March 17-May 1 following a Travis County order to limit public gatherings to no more than 10 people. The decision temporarily suspends dine-in services and closes bars for six weeks in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. On March 18, in an effort to soften the economic blow, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a waiver allowing restaurants to deliver alcohol alongside food.
The impact is already being felt by business owners just a few days after the order. Taco Flats owner Simon Madera said he will have to lay off 30-40 of his 58 employees.
“There is no strategy, there is no choice; I’m worried about my staff,” Madera said.
In an Instagram post, Medici Roasting co-founder Michael Vaclav said the coffee shop will be shutting down its location in The Austonian permanently and its Eighth Street and Congress Avenue store until further notice, laying off 27 employees in the process.
"That is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. There are amazing people that you know and made our days better," Vaclav wrote.
In an effort to share information with our readers and let residents know what takeout and delivery options are out there for local restaurants fighting to hang on, Community Impact Newspaper has started an interactive map with information on locally owned spots throughout the area. While we can never provide a comprehensive list of every restaurant in Central Austin, this will be a living document that is updated regularly. Readers and business owners who would like to share updates with our editorial team can reach out to us by emailing [email protected]
