BURLINGTON — You have heard of businesses re-opening after being forced to close down because of stay-at-home orders and the coronavirus, but not so much brand-new businesses opening for the first time. Now, after nearly two months worth of delays a restaurant in Burlington is finally set serve customers within the next two weeks.
The White Fox Pub and Eatery was supposed to open on April 1, however, due to COVID-19 concerns, the restaurant decided delay opening until it was safe and appropriate to do so.
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"When the news really started rolling out about the NBA and the travel ban and just all started to hit really within an hour of each other, I knew right then that it wasn’t going to happen," general manager Jesse Erickson said.
Nearly two months after they were supposed to open, a Burlington restaurant is about to serve its first customers. pic.twitter.com/pGLuyJmi5u
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While restaurants were still allowed to open under the Stay at Home order, Erickson said that the restaurant's owner was in good financial standing which is why they didn't have to force an opening. It's the same reason why they are planning on opening in about two weeks rather than setting a specific date.
"That the staff feels safe. That we feel confident that when we open the doors you’ll be getting our best effort and best food and best drinks. Since we’ve had so much time, we are okay taking a little more just to make sure everything is done correctly," he said.
It's going to be a slow roll out for the restaurant as business begins to gradually increase.
"[We are] not going to have a sign spinner. I'm not going to have neon lights. [We are] not going to have the bat signal. We're just going to do a soft opening and let the people find out naturally.”
The restaurant will operate at around 30 percent capacity, there will be limit to party sizes, masks will be encouraged, they will space customers apart, and they have even made alterations to the drink menu.
"We’ve actually changed our cocktail list especially to cut down on contact with the ingredients.”
Erickson says he hopes things will start to feel a little more normal once he can serve customers for the first time.