Local restaurants serving hope in takeout orders

Ken Stern and Bill Reynolds | Mar 18, 20200

“We are nervous. But we are going to go out swinging!!” Seeds owner Kjendal Hicks’ reply to a Monday email surveying local restaurants was the feistiest. She also shared the difficulty decision of laying off most of her staff.

For Cristal Perkins and Belen Arias, co-owners with their mom of Santo Coyote Mexican Kitchen, laying off half their staff Monday was the rough start to their day. Ted Furst, majority owner of Nell Thorn wrote that “the entire hourly staff is laid off,” on “standby” in Employment Security Department terminology. They can collect unemployment for eight weeks without needing to look for work. Health insurance is extended through April for those with coverage. he reported.

Monday Gov. Jay Inslee made an emergency proclamation that mandates the immediate two-week closure of all restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities, as well as additional limits on large gatherings. The order will be in place through March 31.

“If we are living a normal life, we are not doing our jobs as Washingtonians,” Inslee said. “We cannot do that anymore. We need to make changes, regardless of size. All of us need to do more. We must limit the number of people we come in contact with. This is the new normal.”

The timing of a dine-in ban, while never ideal, could hardly be worse for La Conner restaurateurs. Many rely on a strong tulip tourist season to rebound from slower winter business months, said Lisa Mallory, who with husband Tim owns Whitey’s BBQ & Catering.

The emergency proclamation includes statewide closure of entertainment, leisure and non-essential services, extending to barber shops and hair salons. It includes museums and art galleries.

Monday the La Conner Soroptimists and Rotary Club chapters had representatives meet with Hicks and Kim Broadhead, Stompin Grounds Coffee owner. Soroptimist Dyann Provenzano called to say local nonprofit organizations “are trying to figure out how to work together” to promote getting takeout from local restaurants.

These and other owners appreciate the local community’s support. They are open and hopeful. Sips wine store owner Anna Jahnke is stressing her fast, attentive customer service: “We live five minutes from the shop and can meet anyone pretty short notice so we are encouraging everyone to call in their order in advance” she wrote in an email. She noted the wine shop’s HEPA 0.3 micron air filter at the tasting bar and her commitment “to doing all we can to make Sips a safe place you can go to keep your pantry from running dry.”

These restaurants have these enticements:

Seeds: 35% off bottles of wine, 10% discount for cash and free kids meals with the purchase of an entrée.
Santo Coyote: 20% off takeout, 10% off cash orders, $1.99 kid meals.
Nell Thorn: 30% off take-out orders through March
Sips: 30% off three or more bottles of wine

Websites list takeout hours, menus, gift cards and specials. Call to get details.

Being realistic is good. Hicks wrote “I think that everyone [staff] is devastated and not sure how to navigate.” Perkins noted “If it goes any longer than a couple of weeks it’s going to be really rough.”

Seattle restauranteur Furst, well established in Seattle as well as here, wrote “Everyone is very concerned, of course, but remain hopeful. They know that as soon as things return to normal, they will be able to return to their jobs at Nell Thorn.”

Asked to compare his 10 year old Kirkland restaurant customer base, he responded “The level of support in La Conner has been equal to that; we feel touched and blessed to have such kind and thoughtful customers.”

Perkins agreed, saying “It’s a little community. Everyone knows everyone else. It tears at your heart.”

La Conner Seafood and Prime Rib posted on its Facebook page “We are closed until further notice [and] “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to temporarily close the doors in response to COVID-19.”

“We will get through this,” was the last sentence in La Conner Seafood and Prime Rib’s posting.

Calico Cupboard’s Facebook posting: “We will be temporarily closing until state allows reopening. In times like these our focus is on the health and safety of our communities. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate our amazing customers!!!”

The La Conner Pub & Eatery, or “The Tavern,” will be closed till April 1.

The mood there was glum on Monday as staff had looked forward to a St. Patrick’s Day wedding reception for “Kit” McCauley and Renata Bos. The couple said they would reschedule the reception for a later date.

La Conner Brewing Co. and La Conner Coffee Co. were putting in motion plans Monday to offer take-home orders at reduced hours.

Pat Ball of The Slider Café said his restaurant would re-open Thursday for take-outs. Volunteers have offered to provide deliveries for Slider’s but a final decision had yet to be made on Tuesday.

Before the ban went into effect, Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage had canceled its March entertainment schedule. Anelia’s is among those offering take-out, curbside delivery, and gift cards while maintaining normal business hours.

Mayor Ramon Hayes encourages people to call the town’s restaurants for takeout orders, that that it is a concrete way for the community to support our local businesses.

“What we’re looking at is pretty unprecedented,” Hayes said. “Even the Great Recession a few years ago wasn’t like this.”

There will be real economic hardship and the possible failure of businesses and loss of jobs if the closures continue into April.

Town bracing for full effects of crippling coronavirus impact

Bill Reynolds

On a beautiful sunlit Monday afternoon, with snow-capped mountain peaks clearly visible and Swinomish Channel shimmering brightly, the historic downtown La Conner waterfront was strangely quiet.

Just a day before, despite growing concerns over the looming coronavirus threat – which had already led to difficult private and public restrictions – the popular boardwalk had drawn an above average number of folks for a brisk weekend day in mid-March.

But that was only hours before Gov. Jay Inslee, in a move designed to stem the spread of what has become a global pandemic, issued an emergency proclamation temporarily shutting down dine-in restaurants, bars, clubs, theaters and indoor recreational venues such as gyms and yoga studios.

In response to coronavirus concerns, Washington now becomes one of 11 states to have closed dining rooms – a social distancing strategy deemed effective battling covid-19 but which could severely hamstring businesses such as restaurants in tourist-oriented small town economies like La Conner’s where their role is integral.

There’s a full menu when it comes to those sectors affected by the coronavirus, one spanning almost all areas of life, be they commercial, social, or spiritual.

For instance, faced with restrictions against large in-door events, La Conner United Methodist pastor Rev. Marcella Baker proposed an innovative alternative – a brief outdoor worship service under clear, sunny skies last Sunday.

That plan, however, was nixed by a County (which later became national) recommendation that persons over 60 or with compromising health conditions not attend gatherings of more than 10 people.

Sunday Mass was also canceled at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, a directive in effect throughout Western Washington parishes and missions.

As in other communities around the nation, La Conner retailers have grappled with meeting demand for essentials such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and rubbing alcohol.

Dwindling store stocks, unfortunately, have led to thefts of toilet paper from the Town’s public restrooms, Town Administrator Scott Thomas and Public Works Director Brian Lease confirmed last week.

Pioneer Market staff on Wednesday said they would receive no toilet paper, sanitizer or related inventory until the following Tuesday. Sure enough, the store’s Charmin shelf remained empty late Monday. Rubbing alcohol sales are limited to one bottle per person. An employee reported that customers were adapting, purchasing Everclear. The 190 proof grain alcohol is about 95% alcohol by volume.

La Conner Drug Store posted on its front door a list of sanitizing products, all of which are on order, but were out of stock Monday afternoon.

By then, the list of local offices, services and businesses either closed or operating on a limited basis was much longer than that of those maintaining a normal routine.

And the list continued to grow. Swinomish Casino and Lodge announced Monday night it would temporarily suspend operations, remaining closed through March.

The situation was still fluid as the Weekly News went to press, with La Conner residents exploring varied options to cope with conditions having no strictly defined time limit.

One idea gaining traction called for Town officials to designate an on-street parking space in front of each building for curbside pickups. Many La Conner residents said they were on-board with doing whatever it takes to bolster the local economy during the virus crisis.

Rick Dole, for one, stood ready with his vintage truck.

“My plan,” he said in a social media post, “is to drive the Ghost of Tom Joad downtown a couple times a week to pick up take-out.”