The state of Wisconsin has enacted a ban of more than 10 people gathering, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
This means all bars and restaurants in the state are closed except for takeout and delivery.
Though important for health reasons, the ban is leaving restaurant owners and workers in murky waters.
“There’s over 13,000 eating and drinking establishments and we have over 280,000 in the state of Wisconsin, so this is hitting our members really, really hard,” Wisconsin Restaurant Association President and CEO Kristine Hillmer tells WTMJ. “There are operators that are worried that they are never going to be able to reopen because they just can’t afford it. So these are unprecedented times for sure.”
Hillmer adds that in the restaurant business, every dollar always counts.
“To put it in perspective, the typical average restaurant in the state of Wisconsin has a profit margin of three to five percent. What that means is for every dollar that comes in, 95 to 97 cents of that dollar is already spoken for in terms of rent, heat, electricity, food costs, staffing costs. And most of these restaurants don’t have a piggy bank, if you will, or a reserve that can help them get over a hump. A lot of these restaurants go week-to-week and month-to-month on their sales. It’s a very skinny profit margin.”
She’s urging the state to make changes to unemployment. First, waiving the one week waiting period and second, waiving the four work search actions that are currently requires each week.
“Any way we can get cash immediately in people’s pockets is going to help them at least survive and feed their families,” says Hillmer.
Lastly, she asks those that are able to do what they can to help.
“Support your local restaurant in some way, shape, or form. Call them. Find out can you order directly from them or can you order a gift card from them to use later.”
For the full interview with Hillmer on Wisconsin’s Morning News, click in the player above.
