The damage is already done. Maine Governor Janet Mills allowed some restaurants to partially reopen this week, but her draconian shutdown of Maine hurt the eateries so badly it may be too late for many of them to survive. Just last week President Trump criticized Mills for her failure to reopen the state. Here’s a clip of the President’s statements:
The Portland Press Herald explains the grim future faced by Maine’s restaurateurs:
“It’s been devastating.” That’s how Craig Dilger, owner of Foulmouthed Brewing in South Portland, described the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local restaurants. This week, Gov. Janet Mills issued new orders allowing restaurants in Cumberland, York and Sagadahoc counties to once again offer indoor dine-in seating, but since local restaurants haven’t been allowed to do so since March, the damage may already be done.
In South Portland, owners of local eateries are worried about the future. Ginger Cote, the owner of Big Babe’s Tavern, has spoken with many other restaurateurs and said the situation is “really bad, like a lot of us are looking at bankruptcy, bad.”
Bill Dunnigan, co-owner of Cia Cafe, said he’s feeling it, too. Sales are down 50% and he thinks he is one of the luckier owners. Even with dining rooms open, Dunnigan said, social distancing rules are still in effect, which means most restaurants will have tables so spread out that they will only operate at 40% capacity.
“Nobody’s going to survive that in the winter,” he said.
Mills’ failure to protect the livelihood of her constituents makes her Richardcyoung.com’s, Ass of the Week.
