Iowa Loses 10% of Restaurants and Bars Due to COVID-19
It's clear that the coronavirus pandemic has had a major effect on businesses across the nation and here in Iowa.
Temporary closures and safety procedures were enforced, especially on non-essential businesses. Many of these places were able to adjust to the new guidelines and find a way to stay in business, but that certainly wasn't the case for all.
According to KCCI, the Iowa Restaurant Association stated that "10% of the state's restaurants and bars are already lost from the financial devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic and will not recover." The KCCI report also states that that percentage is estimated to rise to 25% of Iowa restaurants and bars permanently closing up shop if the closures continue until July 1. This just goes to show that despite local restaurants doing carry out, delivery, and what they can to ride through the storm, sometimes it just isn't enough.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced in a press conference Monday that some businesses in 77 of Iowa's 99 counties will be able to reopen at a 50% capacity on May 1. That's great news for so many in the restaurant and bar industry. Here in eastern Iowa counties such as Linn and Johnson, we'll have to wait a little bit longer, as we will remain closed until May 15.
In the meantime, while we wait, we can still support our local restaurants and businesses in other ways. Here's a list of local businesses that are open and ready to serve you during this interesting time.