Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 27, 2020 | Worcester Business Journal 17 S M A L L B U S I N E S S F O C U S Difficult decisions e same forced creativity – and dilemmas over how to keep business going – is repeated all over Worcester, Central Massachusetts and elsewhere. For restaurants, bars and breweries across the area, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a difficult question about whether to remain open and if so, how. Even Worcester's city officials are illustrative of the mixed priorities. e city has required all retail workers to wear facial coverings to stay safe. But the City Council has declared April 27 Takeout Day, urging residents to get food from their favorite restaurant that day. What's undoubtable is that the restaurant industry has been decimated by the outbreak. Four out of five Massachusetts restaurants have temporarily closed during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a survey by the Massachusetts Restaurant Associations. Of 1,000 restaurant operators, only 20% said they've remained open for delivery or takeout. Nearly half of restaurants, or 45%, said they attempted to continue takeout and delivery only before choosing to close. "Initially some people tried to do it," Bob Luz, the president and CEO of the Westborough-based restaurant group said. More and more, though, he added, some have decided it best to close entirely for the time being. Since the outbreak began hitting Massachusetts, 93% of restaurants in the state said they've laid off or furloughed staff, bringing employment down by 87%. Restaurant sales in Massachusetts were down nearly $1 billion in March, and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association projects a $1.3 billion decline in April. e picture of the industry nationally is bleak as well. e National Restaurant Association said its survey of more than 6,500 operators found that average sales were down 78% compared to a year ago. e group estimates more than 8 million restaurant employees, or more than two-third of the usual workforce, have been laid off or furloughed since the beginning of the outbreak in March. Oriola Koci, who owns Worcester restaurants Altea's Eatery and Livia's Dish with her husband, Enton Mehillaj, viewed the decision less as a financial H E L P I N G L O C A L M A N U F A C T U R E R S M E E T F U T U R E D E M A N D . Massachusetts manufacturers don't just make products—they create jobs. MassDevelopment offers a range of financing solutions and programs designed to help manufacturers—and the communities they reside in—thrive. Learn more at massdevelopment.com. Little Leaf Farms in Devens KHJ25508_MAS-335_Manufacturing_6.625x5.5.indd 1 2/20/20 12:58 PM Hospitality unemployment The food and accommodation industry has, along with retail, included the most unemployment claims from workers since the coronavirus outbreak hit Massachusetts. Unemployment claims in week ending... March 14 March 21 March 28 April 4 April 11 March 15-April 11 total Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Continued on Page 18 O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar in Worcester has closed since the beginning of the closure of dine-in business in March. Oriola Koci, co- owner of Altea's Eatery and Livia's Dish Food and accommodation 1,861 44,353 25,933 17,163 12,634 100,083 Total Massachusetts claims 7,384 147,995 181,032 139,450 103,040 571,517 PHOTO/GRANT WELKER

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