Local restaurants need your help | Guest Opinion

The day restaurants were closed by Covid 19, March 16, it was devasting to tell our employees and our customers that our businesses had to close, or at best, offer limited services.

Local restaurants quickly rallied to offer take-out and delivery services and create new food and drink menus. We greatly appreciate our customers who supported us these past three-plus months, but we miss seeing our customers socializing in our restaurants and enjoying our decks.

For our businesses to survive, we must move to Phase Two and onward immediately so that restaurants and other small businesses can open. This includes community support of wearing masks, cleaning appropriately and social distancing in an effort to decrease the Covid 19 cases.

This will not happen soon if our communities refuse to do everything possible to stem the tidal wave of Covid 19.

Please support the local businesses who are practicing safe procedures and following the Phase One guidelines even when pressured by others to open up prior to the next Phase approval.

We know it is tempting for restaurants and other types of small businesses to not follow the protocol (such as letting people use their decks or opening up for service inside). But,the reality is local Covid 19 cases are on the rise. The more we break the rules, the longer it will take to get back to business.

We also appreciate those who support local businesses despite the fact that surrounding counties are able to “open up” and offer the services that cannot be offered in Benton and Franklin Counties. Traveling to other counties nearby that have moved beyond Phase One cripples our ability to survive.

We all agree that we must open up. But we also need to work together to fairly get through this.

Together, we have a chance to get both people and our economy healthy again!

A good resource is the Tri-Cities Open and Safe website, a collaboration of the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce, Visit Tri-Cities and the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC).

Submitted by: Tri-Cities Tap & Barrel - Jason and Kendra Sadler; C.G. Public House & Catering and Bite at the Landing - Kyle, Shirley and Steve Simmons; Longship Cellars - Cassie and Kyle Welch; The Bradley - Andrew Grassick; Edge Steakhouse & Sports Lounge at Zintel Creek Golf Club; Clover Island Inn - Mark Blotz; Sage Brewing Company - Tyson Crudup; Proof Gastropub - Michael Miller