COLUMBUS, Ind. — Two local restaurants have closed temporarily in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, joining thousands of others nationwide struggling to survive in a year-long expectation of social distancing.
Sirloin Stockade and the Garage Pub and Gill are the two closing temporarily.
Sirloin Stockade owner Peter Jurrema said that his restaurant closed Dec. 1. The restaurant posted on social media that it would be closed until spring, though Jurrema said that the reopening date will depend on certain factors.
“A lot has to happen,” he said. “For starters, the virus needs to be tamped down or lessened.”
Sirloin Stockade was practicing COVID-19 protocols, including masks, surface sanitization and regular temperature checks for staff, he said. However, people aren’t as eager to go out, especially to a buffet-style restaurant, and sales were a third of what they were at the same time in 2019, Jurrema said.
“We just basically ran out of cash,” he said. “We were paying bills slowly because the money was not coming in. And we got to a point where our bills exceeded the money coming in.”
When asked if there was a possibility of the business closing for good, he replied, “Anything’s possible.”
On Nov. 28, the Garage Pub and Grill announced on Facebook that it would be closing for a time “for the safety of our staff and patrons.”
“It isn’t socially responsible to encourage crowds or have live entertainment, which is what we are known for, and continue to put our amazing staff at risk,” the restaurant said in the social media post.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
