5 Ways to support your local restaurants
It’s interesting how just a few short weeks can change things for everyone! You are probably more than familiar with the common terms that have become a regular part of our vocabulary recently: social distancing, Covid-19, Coronavirus, quarantine, pandemic, etc. It can feel a bit unnerving at times. Have you found yourself feeling unsettled or nervous over the past few weeks? Understandably so! In fact, psychologists have seen a significant increase in feelings of anxiety, helplessness, panic, and stress. Empty shelves at the store, people wearing masks, businesses with closed signs in the window, and quiet, deserted spaces can all contribute to feelings of uncertainty and alarm. However, in these moments it is more important than ever to take a deep breath, to participate in enjoyable activities, and to find ways to reach out to others in the community.
Small businesses and local restaurants are being hit particularly hard. Many states have limited restaurants to takeout and delivery options only. The fear of spreading or catching the virus has seriously impacted the number of customers frequenting restaurants, even just for takeout service. This is a significant burden for many local and small restaurants to bear and is even forcing some of them to close their doors for good. We love the restaurants in the Charleston area! They are the heartbeat of our community, bringing variety, culture, and wonderfully unique dining experiences to locals and visitors alike. As a business that spends our time showcasing and taking visitors to well-deserving eating establishments, we are saddened to see the impact that this pandemic is having on so many restaurants in our community. We hope you will join us in finding ways to help continue supporting them during this time. We have been through challenging times before. If we band together and show community support, this will be a distant memory in the not too distant future. We will weather this storm together!
Gift Cards!
One of our favorite options! Purchase gift cards now to gift to family members and friends with a time set for a future date to go and enjoy a meal together as a way to celebrate when the health crisis has passed and life is returning back to normal! Purchasing gift cards now will provide much-needed help to cash-strapped eateries and will be a boost to those you love to have a delicious meal out to look forward to.
Food to Go
Takeout and delivery options are what most restaurants will be relying on for the next several weeks until dining-in options are available again. Every restaurant is taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of germs by regularly sanitizing surfaces, increasing hand-washing and protection for employees, and limiting the number of customers allowed on the premise or in the facility.
Support on Social Media
Smaller restaurants rely heavily on positive reviews and feedback on sites such as Facebook, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Google Reviews. Give a robust and hearty review of those restaurants you would love to see stay in business! Provide comments on not only specific dishes and food, but also positively comment on customer service, cleanliness of the facility, and unique features the restaurant offers. It’s a free way to help out in a big way!
Tip generously and consider donating
When ordering be sure to generously tip those who prepared the food, and don’t forget your delivery driver! If you are in a place financially, any financial donation can go a long way to helping make ends meet during this tough economic time.
Be a friend and ask what you can do to help
Perhaps you already know the owner or the employees of your favorite restaurants from frequent visits and time spent enjoying the quality food. If you don’t know them well, now is a great time to get to know them a little better. Don’t be afraid to reach out and to be a friend. A simple phone call to let them know you appreciate their business in your community and to ask what you can do to help can go a long way. This is a time of anxiety and stress for all of us, but particularly for those who might be facing the loss of their livelihood with having to close the doors on their business and a lifetime of effort and sacrifice.
We at Charleston Culinary Tours are so pleased to have the opportunity to be able to serve visitors from all over the United States and even international visitors! As we respond to the current conditions we will keep you updated on what to expect and how to best adjust your travel plans if necessary. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with questions or concerns. We are here to help! We look forward to assisting you with whatever travel plans your future may hold. Take care!