How Restaurants Should Communicate Reopening with Customers
No matter what, don’t lose your brand voice. If we think back to March, it’s shocking to realize the sheer amount of activity that has been condensed into the past three months. After the restaurant industry scrambled to implement operational changes that would comply with new social distancing rules and keep revenue coming in, we’re faced with what seems like the light at the end of the tunnel. Now, as states, counties, and cities begin lifting stay-at-home orders and reopening dining rooms, restaurants are once again ready to quickly shift operations and get back on track. Meanwhile, as these turbulent times unfold, customers still have many questions and wonder if it’s safe to eat out again. It can seem daunting for a brand to communicate during this uncertain time but, simply put, the solution is clear and concise communication. In these unprecedented times, consumers are searching for an authentic brand that will, ultimately, show them your goal is to earn their trust and adapt alongside them.
NJ Outdoor Gathering Limits Increased
From 10 to 25. At today’s daily COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Murphy signed an executive order that raises the limit of individuals allowed at outdoor gatherings from 10 to 25. Indoor gatherings will remain limited to just 10 people. The order also allows recreational campgrounds to reopen immediately. In all cases, Murphy said that social distancing must be adhered to. “If you were looking to gather with your neighbors for a Memorial Day cookout, you may do so, so long as social distancing and personal responsibility remain the order of the day,” Murphy said. He noted that today’s order does not affect outdoor dining or graduation ceremonies, but did add that there could be additional guidance for graduations early next week.
If Life is a Movie
It’s called “Closed Until Further Notice”. A simple walk is said to be good for you, especially now. Good for clearing your head. Nonsense. Here is some of what I encountered during a weekday afternoon walk through this New Jersey suburb, along a route I’d taken hundreds of times before. Posted warnings not to picnic in the park. Hoops removed from the basketball backboards. A looping broadcast at the deserted train station to “respect social distancing.” A “Do NOT Enter” sign outside a restaurant. A theater marquee announcing the title of the movie we are now living: “Closed Until Further Notice.”
New PPP Guidance Offers Small Relief
For covered period. The latest guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) offers some small relief from the program’s strict eight-week time frame and clarifies some key issues, according to attorneys for Jackson Lewis. Employers will be able to use an Alternative Payroll Coverage Period that allows the covered period to begin with the first pay period after receiving the loan. Before, the eight-weeks began on the day a company received the loan. Businesses are required to spend their PPP loans on qualified expenses within the eight-week covered period to qualify to have the loan forgiven.
Is It Safe to Stay at a Hotel Right Now?
Infectious disease experts answer. Making travel plans raises a huge question: Is it safe to stay at a hotel right now? The answer isn’t as cut and dry as you’d hope. William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, agrees. “‘Safe’ implies complete safety, but staying at a hotel should be a low-risk activity if it’s approached properly,” he says. For starters, know that most hotel chains want to keep you safe too. “Most are working vigorously to try to make their businesses safer and to make them more conducive to social distancing.” Here’s what you need to know.
Did You Know?
Which N.J. beaches and boardwalks are open this weekend? Although the summer season is still a week away, most beaches across Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties are currently open to the public. While some municipalities are enforcing stronger regulations than others, all are requiring visitors to continue to practice social distancing while on the beaches. With Memorial Day Weekend and the arrival of beach season just a week away, what can New Jersey residents expect to see at local beaches this coming weekend? They can find the answers here.
Employee Tip
Where can I get a coronavirus test in N.J.? As the coronavirus continues to spread in New Jersey, the availability of testing in the state has expanded. How to get a coronavirus test varies throughout the state, depending on whether it’s from a private medical facility, a state-run testing site, or one operated by a town or county. Now, more availability has allowed those without symptoms to also be tested including at local Rite Aid and CVS pharmacies. New Jersey has also authorized the state’s 18,000 licensed pharmacists to administer tests. That could include more than 2,000 pharmacies. See a full list below. New Jersey testing sites.
Bielat Santore & Company – Restaurant Industry Daily Alerts
A voice for our industry. If you are finding these daily bulletins informative and beneficial during this pandemic, we kindly ask that you write a brief Google review providing a vote of your appreciation. Simply Google “Bielat Santore & Company” and when the company name appears click the button on the right to write your review or; if you don’t use Gmail, go to Google Maps, type “Bielat Santore & Company” – Allenhurst, NJ into Google Maps; scroll down and you will see an option to leave a review.
Thank you and remember all of the “Restaurant Industry Alerts” and “Thursday Restaurant Rap” interviews can be found at www.123bsc.com/news/. We intend to continue to keep you informed as we all look for an end to this crisis.
How to market your restaurant for sale during the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, it will be challenging to market and sell businesses that have temporarily been shuttered during the pandemic, because valuations are based on historical financial data. However, whether you choose to reopen your business or not, owners can still position them for sale. So, what should you do if you want to sell in the next 6 – 12 months? Contact a good business broker that specializes in the sale of hospitality real estate and businesses. Bielat Santore & Company, Allenhurst, NJ has been brokering such sales for over 40 years and will be able to help you come up with flexible deal structures and capital sources to make a sale possible; call for a free consultation – 732.531.4200.
