Iowa bars and restaurants continue to feel the severe economic impacts of the coronavirus. A survey of hundreds of businesses by the Iowa Restaurant Association found revenues for bars and restaurants were down 84 percent in March compared to a year ago.
According to KCRG-TV 6 that survey found 91 percent of bars in Iowa are currently closed and 82 percent of restaurants have laid off at least some of their workers, since Gov. Kim Reynolds announced restrictions on March 17.
Restaurants around Iowa, including one in the Quad Cities Area, had to make quick decisions for the future of their business.
Me and Billy has been serving Davenport since 2013. The owners decided to temporarily close until the threat of COVID-19 passes.
"We're trying to stay positive. It's definitely uncharted territory," Fran Maus, Co-owner of Me & Billy told KCRG-TV 6. "A big part of our business is our event space, so we knew without that being open, it just didn't make sense for us to do carry out. So we made the decision to close."
He says they are working on projects behind the scenes, including a new menu, but they remain eager to get their employees back to work.
"Everybody knows that they have a job with us when we open back up, so I think that's the most important part," Maus says. "I need to step away from the news sometimes and take a breather, go out for a walk, and clear my head. We're a family business, we have each other to rely on and that really helps a lot."
Since statewide closures went into effect, accommodation and food service workers have filed the most unemployment claims in Iowa. An initial prediction from the Iowa Restaurant Association estimates 20 percent of operators may not recover.