'The Great American Takeout' Urging Customers To Help Restaurants Hurt By Coronavirus Outbreak
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- People around the country are being encouraged to help restaurants that were forced to close their doors to dine-in service amid the growing Coronavirus outbreak.
The Great American Takeout is part of a national effort to help boost business during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The restaurant industry has taken a beating, with many restaurants only able to offer takeout or delivery services.
Social distancing is posing an economic threat to a sector that employs 15 million people across the country.
So that's what's driving national and regional restaurants to put the Great American Takeout together.
One restaurant CEO says it's no longer about just one business surviving, but instead, the whole industry.
Some of the popular national brands behind this are Noodles and Company, Panera, the Cheesecake Factory, and IHOP.
As small businesses owners have told us, every customer they get right now helps.
"It already hurts, it's hard enough to maintain on a normal basis and this is just like another little setback. Hopefully we get through it," said Sal Di Pasquale, Owner of Salvatore's.
Takeout is what's keeping DiAnoia's Eatery going right now due to the outbreak.
"We're very fortunate. People have been continuing to come in and show their support," said DiAnoia's Eatery Chef de Cuisine Tyler Belden-England.
But the restaurant has definitely noticed a decline in business since stopping dine in services.
"Not being able to sell alcohol takes a toll. Again we are fortunate and sell alcohol to go for people," said Belden-England.
The same goes for DiBella's Subs in Market Square.
"We've definitely seen a very big decrease in traffic and it's been daily. Everyday you hear more and more things going on and less and less business and traffic downtown here," said DiBella's Subs General Manager Eric Barnard.
Anyone who does participate is encouraged to use the hashtag #TheGreatAmericanTakeout to encourage more people to get involved.
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