TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — The Executive Order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday closed all dining rooms in Florida and had many locally-owned businesses concerned about the future.
Restaurants will be allowed to keep their kitchens open and offer delivery or takeout services. They will also be allowed to sell alcohol to people who are 21 years and older with pick up orders.
Table 23 says they'll do all they can to stay afloat, but hits from the coronavirus pandemic have caused them to have to lay off employees.
Rankin Tacos opened in mid-February. Business was good initially, but as COVID-19 made its way through the state and impacted day to day life, their business has taken a hit.
Both restaurant owners say the worst part is that they don't know what the future holds.
"I think its hurting everybody right now," said Roger Rankin, Rankin Tacos. "We have a food truck that we've been operating for three years and even its slowed down. "
"I don't think anybody saw anything like this coming," said Mandy Lemonds, co-owner of Table 23. "We've been through so many hurricanes and always been able to bounce back afterwards. But this is a whole other ordeal with no ending. "
Most gyms were also ordered to close on Friday. Any gym inside a hotel, housing complex, fire or police station, or office building that doesn't hold more than 10 people will remain open.
There's no timeline for when the orders will be lifted.
The takeout map from the Tallahassee-Leon County Economic Vitality department allows you to find restaurants that are open for to-go food near you.
