Restaurants in The Villages continued to react to the ever-changing landscape caused by the Coronavirus on Tuesday after Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an order calling for them to allow only 50 percent capacity.
The governor’s order, which called for all bars and nightclubs to shut down for 30 days beginning Tuesday night, also mandates that restaurants separate seated customers by a distance of at least six feet and screen all of their employees before allowing them to work to see if they are feeling ill.
On Tuesday, more Villages and area restaurants also shut down their dining rooms in the wake of the COVID-19 breakout and started concentrating more on takeout and delivery orders. The latest chain eateries in the local area to follow that practice are Dunkin’ Donuts and McDonald’s, which normally serve thousands of customers daily in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
Dunkin’ Donuts has four locations in The Villages – 1002 Alverez Ave. in Spanish Springs Town Square, 3460 Wedgewood Lane near The Villages High School, 2736 Brownwood Blvd. in Brownwood and 1561 Bella Cruz Dr. near UF Health The Villages Hospital. On Tuesday, an employee at one of the locations said sales had plummeted significantly and the chain had been mandated to adopt new store hours of 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, as well as halting the practicing of refilling travel and reusable mugs.
Mega-chain McDonald’s, with four locations in and around The Villages – 320 Colony Blvd., 4080 Wedgewood Ln., 452 N U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Lady Lake and 17890 S U.S. Hwy. 441 in Summerfield – has closed all seating areas, PlayPlaces, self-service beverage bars and kiosks. Instead, customers are being encouraged to order takeout from the counter or use the drive-thru lanes.
Meanwhile, two restaurant owners in The Villages were way ahead of the curve Tuesday following DeSantis’ order. Gina Buell, who along with husband Mike owns City Fire in Lake Sumter Landing and Brownwood, already had suspended entertainment and removed some tables to put at least six feet of distance between customers dining in the two eateries.
They also had launched an aggressive curbside and delivery service, which also includes larger meals for families of two or four, as well as regular menu items. Customers also can order bottles of alcohol from the Lake Sumter Landing location as part of their to-go orders.
Buell said her staff also is continuing to constantly wipe down bar, table and high-traffic surfaces, as well as all kitchen equipment. And per the governor’s mandate, employees are being screened on a daily basis before they are allowed to work.
Buell said she’s proud that her staff has taken the Coronavirus so seriously and started taking precautions early on – and with a vengeance.
“I’m a germaphobe anyway and this is a direct threat to our Villagers,” Buell said. “We just can’t allow that to happen. That’s why we jumped on it immediately.
“If we have to limit our sales and business for the next two weeks to save lives, that’s what we are going to do,” she added. “A lot of people really appreciate what we are doing by taking it so seriously.”
Allen Musikantow, owner/operator of the Cody’s Original Roadhouse restaurants in Lake Sumter Landing, Brownwood and the Mulberry Plaza, said his staff is adapting to mandates without any problems. He said the restaurants are running at about 50 percent capacity in the dining room so practicing social distancing hasn’t been a problem. He added that his staff is continuing to constantly clean high-traffic surfaces and kitchen equipment and is encouraging the use of takeout and delivery services.
We’re still open,” Musikantow said. “We’re dealing with the hand that’s been dealt to us.”
Musikantow said he and his managers also will be screening all of his 300 employees with a questionnaire about everything from their current state of health to recent travel to the health of their family members. He said the results of the screening will be used to make sure employees still are healthy and eligible to come to work.