Almost two-thirds of restaurant owners in Mississippi have had to lay off workers in March -- and that number is expected to grow. MPB’s Alexandra Watts reports on what is next for restaurants operating during the Coronavirus.
Mississippi’s restaurant industry lost almost 170 million dollars in revenue in March according to the National Restaurant Association.
People are eating out less because of the Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing has been ordered. The restaurant association also found that almost one-third of restaurants in the state have had to temporarily close.
Pat Fontaine is with the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association and said that within the past month, the restaurant industry has suffered.
“Sales plummeted about two weeks ago which has forced some closures [and] layoffs across the state," Fontaine said. "So our workforce is hurting right now.”
Almost 20,000 restaurant jobs in Mississippi have been lost according to the restaurant association.
Some restaurants offer carryout options. But even those locations are seeing a decline in sales which results in employees getting fewer hours or being let go.
Dominick Trinca owns and operates a barbecue restaurant in the Mississippi Delta. It’s usually busy, but now it is one of many businesses in the state that has had to cut hours.
“We’re down to a skeleton staff, so people are working less," Trinca said. "I've had to fill in, and I’m working tremendously hard. The impact has been dramatic.”
Restaurants and their workers could benefit from the recently passed stimulus package.
Restaurant owners encourage customers to look at take out options and to purchase gift cards for later use.