Even with a dining room that’s off limits to customers, Tom Ngo is eager to serve patrons at Banana Leaf Asian Cuisine.
The restaurant, located in Stoney Creek’s Elm King Plaza, is offering only takeout and delivery orders to comply with provincially mandated social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ngo, co-owner of Banana Leaf, said the restaurant doesn’t have contracts with food delivery apps like Skip the Dishes or Uber Eats, and for now is handling its own delivery services.
“Right now, business is very, very slow because of the coronavirus spread,” Ngo said on March 17. “It’s been terrible.”
As of March 17, Ngo said Banana Leaf can still accept pickup orders and delivery within Stoney Creek. It’s also possible the restaurant can deliver beyond the boundaries of Stoney Creek, depending upon order size.
Meanwhile, larger chain restaurants like Harvey’s have converted to takeout service models, with enhanced drive-thru and delivery services, while closing dining room seating.
“We have been following the COVID-19 situation closely and our priority remains fixed on the health and well-being of our guests and team members,” said David Colebrook, Harvey’s Canada’s chief operating officer, in a news release. “Moving to this temporary model will allow us to support social distancing while still being able to serve our loyal guests.”
As of March 17, customers can download the Harvey's App for mobile and pre-paid orders, order delivery through DoorDash, Uber Eats or Skip the Dishes, or order in restaurants for takeout only and in drive-thrus, where available.
Marvin Ryder, associate marketing professor at McMaster University, noted the timing of the social distancing regulations is particularly difficult for bars and restaurants. Many bars in Toronto’s distillery district, for example, decided to close down entirely on St. Patrick’s Day.
“For many restaurants that are licensed, it’s their biggest day of the year,” Ryder said. “So they’re going to feel the pain and they’re going to feel it almost immediately.”
Ryder believes the disruption to restaurants and business in general will be temporary. The biggest question is how long businesses and their customers will be forced to follow the social distancing guidelines. It could be two weeks, four weeks or eight weeks, Ryder estimated, but no one really knows for certain at this point.
“There is absolutely no precedent for this,” said Ryder. “At this moment, it’s open-ended.”
In the meantime, Ryder expects more people will try delivery apps, and noted Uber Eats recently announced reduced delivery charges for independent and small restaurants.
“The message for the small business owners, whether you are a restaurant or just a store, is what do we have to do to get you through this?” said Ryder.
Business owners should stay in touch with their elected representatives, Ryder suggested. And over the coming weeks, governments at all levels may announce new measures aimed at protecting businesses.
And Hamilton, for example, might consider allowing businesses to delay their property tax payments to preserve cash flow, Ryder suggested.
“We academics believe that once we get past this, we think we’re actually going to return to normal very quickly,” Ryder noted. “What we’re basically doing is we’re just suspending normality, for the next two, four, six weeks, and then when the all-clear is given, we’ll quickly go back. Nobody wants to give up their lifestyles, but we are prepared to temporarily change.”
While Ryder expects things will eventually get back to normal, the financial strain could be too much for some businesses and individuals.
“I think there will be some businesses fail, just like there will be some individuals who will probably seek out bankruptcy,” said Ryder. “We have been saying for some time that Canadians have been carrying relatively high debt loads. And I’m sure there are some businesses that are carrying relatively high debt loads. If something goes wrong, you won’t be able to carry that debt load. A more established business — and someone who’s kept their financial house in relatively good order — I think will still survive, no problem.”
Even with a dining room that’s off limits to customers, Tom Ngo is eager to serve patrons at Banana Leaf Asian Cuisine.
The restaurant, located in Stoney Creek’s Elm King Plaza, is offering only takeout and delivery orders to comply with provincially mandated social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ngo, co-owner of Banana Leaf, said the restaurant doesn’t have contracts with food delivery apps like Skip the Dishes or Uber Eats, and for now is handling its own delivery services.
“Right now, business is very, very slow because of the coronavirus spread,” Ngo said on March 17. “It’s been terrible.”
As of March 17, Ngo said Banana Leaf can still accept pickup orders and delivery within Stoney Creek. It’s also possible the restaurant can deliver beyond the boundaries of Stoney Creek, depending upon order size.
Meanwhile, larger chain restaurants like Harvey’s have converted to takeout service models, with enhanced drive-thru and delivery services, while closing dining room seating.
“We have been following the COVID-19 situation closely and our priority remains fixed on the health and well-being of our guests and team members,” said David Colebrook, Harvey’s Canada’s chief operating officer, in a news release. “Moving to this temporary model will allow us to support social distancing while still being able to serve our loyal guests.”
As of March 17, customers can download the Harvey's App for mobile and pre-paid orders, order delivery through DoorDash, Uber Eats or Skip the Dishes, or order in restaurants for takeout only and in drive-thrus, where available.
Marvin Ryder, associate marketing professor at McMaster University, noted the timing of the social distancing regulations is particularly difficult for bars and restaurants. Many bars in Toronto’s distillery district, for example, decided to close down entirely on St. Patrick’s Day.
“For many restaurants that are licensed, it’s their biggest day of the year,” Ryder said. “So they’re going to feel the pain and they’re going to feel it almost immediately.”
Ryder believes the disruption to restaurants and business in general will be temporary. The biggest question is how long businesses and their customers will be forced to follow the social distancing guidelines. It could be two weeks, four weeks or eight weeks, Ryder estimated, but no one really knows for certain at this point.
“There is absolutely no precedent for this,” said Ryder. “At this moment, it’s open-ended.”
In the meantime, Ryder expects more people will try delivery apps, and noted Uber Eats recently announced reduced delivery charges for independent and small restaurants.
“The message for the small business owners, whether you are a restaurant or just a store, is what do we have to do to get you through this?” said Ryder.
Business owners should stay in touch with their elected representatives, Ryder suggested. And over the coming weeks, governments at all levels may announce new measures aimed at protecting businesses.
And Hamilton, for example, might consider allowing businesses to delay their property tax payments to preserve cash flow, Ryder suggested.
“We academics believe that once we get past this, we think we’re actually going to return to normal very quickly,” Ryder noted. “What we’re basically doing is we’re just suspending normality, for the next two, four, six weeks, and then when the all-clear is given, we’ll quickly go back. Nobody wants to give up their lifestyles, but we are prepared to temporarily change.”
While Ryder expects things will eventually get back to normal, the financial strain could be too much for some businesses and individuals.
“I think there will be some businesses fail, just like there will be some individuals who will probably seek out bankruptcy,” said Ryder. “We have been saying for some time that Canadians have been carrying relatively high debt loads. And I’m sure there are some businesses that are carrying relatively high debt loads. If something goes wrong, you won’t be able to carry that debt load. A more established business — and someone who’s kept their financial house in relatively good order — I think will still survive, no problem.”
Even with a dining room that’s off limits to customers, Tom Ngo is eager to serve patrons at Banana Leaf Asian Cuisine.
The restaurant, located in Stoney Creek’s Elm King Plaza, is offering only takeout and delivery orders to comply with provincially mandated social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ngo, co-owner of Banana Leaf, said the restaurant doesn’t have contracts with food delivery apps like Skip the Dishes or Uber Eats, and for now is handling its own delivery services.
“Right now, business is very, very slow because of the coronavirus spread,” Ngo said on March 17. “It’s been terrible.”
As of March 17, Ngo said Banana Leaf can still accept pickup orders and delivery within Stoney Creek. It’s also possible the restaurant can deliver beyond the boundaries of Stoney Creek, depending upon order size.
Meanwhile, larger chain restaurants like Harvey’s have converted to takeout service models, with enhanced drive-thru and delivery services, while closing dining room seating.
“We have been following the COVID-19 situation closely and our priority remains fixed on the health and well-being of our guests and team members,” said David Colebrook, Harvey’s Canada’s chief operating officer, in a news release. “Moving to this temporary model will allow us to support social distancing while still being able to serve our loyal guests.”
As of March 17, customers can download the Harvey's App for mobile and pre-paid orders, order delivery through DoorDash, Uber Eats or Skip the Dishes, or order in restaurants for takeout only and in drive-thrus, where available.
Marvin Ryder, associate marketing professor at McMaster University, noted the timing of the social distancing regulations is particularly difficult for bars and restaurants. Many bars in Toronto’s distillery district, for example, decided to close down entirely on St. Patrick’s Day.
“For many restaurants that are licensed, it’s their biggest day of the year,” Ryder said. “So they’re going to feel the pain and they’re going to feel it almost immediately.”
Ryder believes the disruption to restaurants and business in general will be temporary. The biggest question is how long businesses and their customers will be forced to follow the social distancing guidelines. It could be two weeks, four weeks or eight weeks, Ryder estimated, but no one really knows for certain at this point.
“There is absolutely no precedent for this,” said Ryder. “At this moment, it’s open-ended.”
In the meantime, Ryder expects more people will try delivery apps, and noted Uber Eats recently announced reduced delivery charges for independent and small restaurants.
“The message for the small business owners, whether you are a restaurant or just a store, is what do we have to do to get you through this?” said Ryder.
Business owners should stay in touch with their elected representatives, Ryder suggested. And over the coming weeks, governments at all levels may announce new measures aimed at protecting businesses.
And Hamilton, for example, might consider allowing businesses to delay their property tax payments to preserve cash flow, Ryder suggested.
“We academics believe that once we get past this, we think we’re actually going to return to normal very quickly,” Ryder noted. “What we’re basically doing is we’re just suspending normality, for the next two, four, six weeks, and then when the all-clear is given, we’ll quickly go back. Nobody wants to give up their lifestyles, but we are prepared to temporarily change.”
While Ryder expects things will eventually get back to normal, the financial strain could be too much for some businesses and individuals.
“I think there will be some businesses fail, just like there will be some individuals who will probably seek out bankruptcy,” said Ryder. “We have been saying for some time that Canadians have been carrying relatively high debt loads. And I’m sure there are some businesses that are carrying relatively high debt loads. If something goes wrong, you won’t be able to carry that debt load. A more established business — and someone who’s kept their financial house in relatively good order — I think will still survive, no problem.”