DE PERE (NBC 26) — Half of Wisconsin restaurant operators surveyed think sales in February and March will be lower than January.
More than 90% expect staffing levels will be lower than the start of the year and nearly a third of operators believe it'll be seven to 12 months before it is business as usual.
Here in Northeast Wisconsin, one restaurant owner says his customers have been slow to return.
You may have heard the saying ‘support your local business’.
We've been hearing it for nearly a year now, but the need it still there.
“We’re just right now just trying to survive,” said Kerry Counard, the owner of The Abbey in De Pere.
Counard said it hasn't been easy keeping the doors open, less customers has meant less revenue.
"A lot of people aren't comfortable yet with anything more than takeout. But we’ve kind of transitioned and pivoted several times from the beginning of the pandemic to do takeout we have a takeout lane. We can certainly carry out to you car. We can do different things,” said Kristine Hillmer, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association President & CEO.
At The Abbey, many customers are St. Norbert college students.
The owner says with the modifications in education, the lack of the college community has also played a role in their business.
"We depend a lot on their business and bodies on campus,” Counard said.
And while a return to normal may still be several months away, area owners say to continue to have hope that their business can carry on.
