It’s December 10th. As pandemics go, it’s a normal day for Pennsylvania restaurants. That is until new restrictions were placed on these businesses following the November explosion on COVID-19 cases.

On December 10, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced the new statewide restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as small businesses and restaurants  were getting used to their everyday precautions, everything changed once again. How will these places make new adjustments to keep their source of money alive and running? 

Many businesses and restaurants worldwide are fighting for survival battling COVID-19. Not only are they losing their everyday guests, but their business is being dragged down. 71% of full service restaurant owners say they do not expect sales to return to pre-coronavirus levels within the next six months. 43% of full service restaurant owners say it is unlikely they will still be in business six months from now if business conditions continue at current levels, according to restaurant.org They are losing money and employees, and may not be able to keep doing this much longer. Guests are not visiting these places because of the scare of getting sick and are not going to their favorite places they once went to weekly. There are still ways around the pandemic to support these businesses,and now is as good a time as any to act on them. 

GIFT CARDS 

We can support these businesses most easily with gift cards. Buy now to help these businesses get through the tough times, and then use them when things open up again and restaurants can return to normal capacity. Additionally, many restaurants will be doing curb side pick ups or deliveries. Also, laws enacted over the last decade have added consumer protection to gift cards. Meaning, by law, gift cards cannot expire for at least five years from the date of issuance.

TAKEOUT

Another way to support businesses would be ordering takeout. You can easily do this safely at your home, and it would only require you to pick up at the business’s curb. Ordering food delivery from local restaurants not only helps support small business owners but also allows them to keep more of their staff employed. If you’re still employed, consider paying it forward to the millions of Americans who don’t have the same options. 

CONSIDER DONATIONS AND CONTINUING MONTHLY SERVICE PAYMENTS 

Consider continuing to pay. If you typically pay a business monthly or even weekly, consider still paying them as if you were using the service. Continuing paying workers who depend on  hourly commission is a direct way that you can impact and aid individuals and small businesses in the wake of COVID. 

Make donations to businesses or organizations you would like to support. Some businesses are accepting Venmo or PayPal donations. Relief Funds have been set up for places like bars, restaurants, food service workers and others in need. Another charitable choice would be to not ask for a refund. 

SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is a prominent part of life, so why not give businesses some shout outs? Plus, many businesses are going digital and need to build traction, and ‘liking’, commenting, reposting, and tagging places in your purchases and unboxing videos really helps with engagement, which, in turn, leads to more visibility and sales. Also, while you are still on the internet, leave a positive review of the business.  

Businesses in Pennsylvania have found ways around COVID to keep their business on its feet. Tony Roni’s, a pizza place located in the Spring House Village at 121 N Bethlehem Pike in Spring House, PA, has been having an especially hard time keeping up, but satisfying Pennsylvanians with the need for pizza, is doing more than managing. 

Tony Altomare, the owner of the many Tony Roni’s locations in the tri-state area, was hit in March but as a food service business, his restaurants were a necessity to the environment, causing him to stay open. Tony had to learn how to service customers and protect themselves at the same time with no experience of what to do during a global pandemic. The restaurants took many measures to adjust to COVID and keep the business running; they turned  to curb-side pick-up and online ordering with credit cards being very helpful, while also maintaining a clean and safe environment for their beloved customers. As Tony said, it was extremely difficult to keep up, but it became a new way of life. 

“Our goal is safety of protecting employees and customers,” Altomare stated. 

Altomare recalled to me how customers can help his business during this difficult time.

“Just try to be patient and order online, but please also try to practice social distancing when at our restaurants and keep yourselves safe in public.”  

Tony is just now just getting over his bad case of COVID, but still is determined to keep his customers, happy, safe, and healthy, even if he may not be. He owns 9 locations all throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and even though it may be a small business, it is a small business with a huge heart for customers and employees and will do anything to satisfy customer’s pizza needs.

Let’s keep the businesses that make us happy, whether it’s Tony Roni’s, your go-to salon, or a business that has been around for generations. Maybe go to your nearest drug store, and buy a gift card for a family member to their favorite restaurant, or order curb-side pickup and tag them in your social media post, and if you’re feeling generous from the Christmas spirit, drop a donation, even if it is only a few dollars. Let’s all try to demolish COVID-19 and help businesses feel like a pandemic never hit.