Another Wichita restaurant closes because of COVID-19, virus forces changes at others
The coronavirus pandemic continues to affect Wichita businesses, and restaurants and bars — whose survival depends on large groups of people gathered for long periods — seem to be among the most affected.
Over the weekend, yet another announced that it was temporarily closing after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
And over the course of the past two weeks, the pandemic has been affecting other restaurants in different ways. Some are pushing back their re-openings. Some are re-closing after having opened several weeks ago. Some are dropping the hours when their businesses are busiest.
Here are a few coronavirus-related bits of restaurant news to catch up on this week:
Cevicheria Y Botanas Islas closes after positive test
This tiny Mexican seafood restaurant at 1935 N. Broadway is the latest restaurant to announce it’s closed because an employee tested positive for coronavirus. Owners posted over the weekend that they closed on June 21 after an employee reported not feeling well.
The restaurant did some disinfecting, the post said, and on Friday, it learned that the employee had tested positive. Now, all the staff is being tested. The restaurant remains closed, the post said.
Stroud’s reopens
This popular fried chicken restaurant at 3661 N. Hillside announced on June 19 that it was closing as a precaution after one of its employees came in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. But on Saturday, the restaurant reopened for dine-in.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, owners said that the restaurant was “pleased and grateful to be able to report that we now received ALL of our COVID-19 test results and NONE of our employees tested positive.”
Of the restaurants that have announced closures after staff members tested positive or came in contact with someone who tested positive, only Connie’s Mexico Cafe and Lotus Leaf Cafe remain closed. Jose Pepper’s west and Paleterias Tropicana also closed for the same reason but have both since reopened.
Peerless cuts weekend hours
This bar at 919 E. Douglas reopened for business on June 5, but on Friday, it announced that it was eliminating its weekend hours over increasing coronavirus concerns. For now, a post on the bar’s Facebook page read, the bar will remain closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
It also will cap its crowds at 50 on other days.
“We hope that by removing our busiest nights and limiting our capacity to 50 people at a time we can continue to provide a safe and healthy drinking environment for everyone still looking to get out,” the post read.
For now, the bar’s hours are 6 p.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays.
Last week, the owners of Mort’s Martini Bar at 923 . First St. announced that they were re-closing the bar temporarily because of large crowds that were turning up.
Doo-Dah pushes back dine-in date
This popular breakfast restaurant has been closed since the coronavirus pandemic started, and owners Patrick and Timirie Shibley announced recently that they would reopen on June 30, which is Tuesday.
They still will, but for at least the first couple of days, food will be available for carryout only. The Shibleys ordered Plexiglass that would serve as a barrier between booths, and it did not arrive on Friday as expected. They think it will arrive Tuesday, and they’ll install it immediately. They hope to be open for dine-in with limited seating by Thursday.
Thao’s Bistro decides to close again
This restaurant at 1825 S. Broadway reopened for dine-in on June 2, but as of this week, it’s closed again.
“While we are super excited to be open, at the same time we are very concerned about the rapidly increasing cases of COVID-19,” owners wrote in a Facebook post. “...We hope things will improve and we will see you all very soon.”
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 11:36 AM.
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