TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — With the economic uncertainties from the coronavirus, we here at ABC 27 are shining a light on businesses that are doing their part to help out the community while keeping their business open.
Remember what it was like sitting down at a restaurant and eating? It may have been days or even weeks since you've done that.
One Tallahassee restaurant is going a step further to make sure your dine-in experience is enjoyable and safe.
Table 23 is not only keeping everything clean and up to the CDC and state's new guidelines, they've even hired a "sanitizing manager."
"Everything has changed now, it's all about keeping your customers safe and delivering on that," said Joe Lemons, the co-owner of Table 23.
It's no longer just about good food and service. Since re-opening in-restaurant dining three weeks ago, Lemons has learned safety is now just as important to customers.
"You can't just muscle through that or offer a big happy hour special and try to pack out the house to get through it," Lemons said. "This one's all about changing people's perceptions of restaurants, to me, to get us back there."
Along with spacing out tables, limiting restaurant capacity, and sanitizing menus, Table 23 has hired a new position, a "sanitizing manager," holding staff accountable for operating under the new standards.
"I never thought I'd have one, but it's something we needed to do to get us back in game," said Lemon. "You can't just open the doors and change nothing. We had to change a lot that we're doing to adapt."
Even employees like Sarah Lott are dining in on their day off.
"With our open patio seating and the lawn and the deck, I feel really safe considering the circumstances, and I feel really safe eating here," Lott said. "It's nice to get out of the house and be around friends."
With summer quickly approaching Lemons hopes their seats will continue filling up.
"Of the three weeks we've been open, this was the best weekend we had," said Lemons.
If you're a business supporting our community, we want to hear from you.
ABC 27 has made it easy to submit your own business.
This is not just Tallahassee. South Georgia small businesses, we want to hear from you too!
Click on the We're Open, Tallahassee tab at the top of the ABC 27 website. Then, tell us your story by filling out the section to the right.
It's our way of letting people know you are open for business, and how they can support you.
