GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The continued ban on indoor dining at Michigan bars and restaurants has cost thousands of jobs, which industry officials say is unfair and needs to change.
“We want to go back to work; our staff needs to go back to work,’’ said Johnny Brann Sr., owner of Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille in Grand Rapids.
It is a sentiment shared by Jeff Lobdell, president of Restaurant Partners Management, LLC.
“Michigan is one of only three states in the country that’s closed to indoor dining,’’ he said. “We need to get these restaurants back open again. We have safeguards in place.’’
They are backing a non-partisan rally planned for Friday, Jan. 15 at DeltaPlex Arena in Walker that calls on Michigan to reopen bars and restaurants to indoor dining.
“Michigan has already lost 2,000 restaurants permanently,’’ Lobdell said. “And from what I’m told, they’re probably going to lose another 4,000 to 5,000 of the 27,000 restaurants in Michigan.’’
Restaurant Partners Management lost three of its restaurants in 2020, Lobdell said. Of the 17 that remain, a dozen are open for takeout orders, including Grand Coney on Michigan Street NE and Beltline Bar on 28th Street SE.
The organization went from 700 employees a year ago to a current staff of 35.
“So that’s how many people have either lost their job or been furloughed,’’ Lobdell said. “And it’s just heart-breaking.’’
Business owner Joel Langlois agrees.
“I’m a small business advocate and I don’t like to see these people that are being hurt by this,’’ he said. “That’s one of the reasons for this rally.’’
Langlois, who owns the DeltaPlex Arena, said Friday’s non-partisan event is to show support for Michigan bars and restaurants while also calling for a restoration of indoor dining.
“It’s not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democrat issue. It’s an issue that crosses party lines,’’ Langlois said. “I expect people to be here to help their fellow community members and small businesses suffering right now.’’
The rally is open to the public and gets underway at 6 p.m., he said. Representatives from area restaurants will be on hand to sell gift cards, he said.
“They need all the support they can get,’’ Langlois said.
Since the pandemic began, Michigan bars and restaurants have been closed for a cumulative total of about five months, Lobdell said. And despite stringent coronavirus safeguards in place, bars and restaurants have continued to see temporary closures extended.
“And we’re the only state in the country without a discernable plan as to how we’re going to open,’’ he said.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services this week announced a working plan that would open indoor dining on Feb. 1 with “mitigation measures’’ in place, including capacity limits and a curfew.
But a Feb. 1 reopening is not set in stone. “The ultimate decision depends on data continuing to stabilize,’’ the state said in a Jan. 13 news release. “Additional details on the reopening pathway are expected next week.’’
According to the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, three key metrics established by state health officials for a “safe restart’’ have been met. They include a decline in COVID-19 cases and a drop in the share of hospital beds used by COVID-19 patients.
“Metrics were established, metrics were met,’’ Lobdell said. “It’s time for our businesses to reopen.’’
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