Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
DAVENPORT – Many businesses have been negatively impacted by COVID-19-related shutdowns, but perhaps no industry has been hit harder than restaurant businesses. As the economy begins to turn back in a positive direction, some local restaurants are beginning to recover, while for others, another shutdown or more restrictions could prove costly.
Edna’s Drive-In
Business has been good at Edna’s, according to owner Virginia Fries.
“August is always our big month,” Fries said. “It feels very similar to any other year…it’s always a bigger month than any other time. We’re doing well. We’re getting a lot of good support, and people are very happy that we’re open.”
Fries said Edna’s is geared well for to-go orders in the first place. Edna’s has drive-thru and walk-up/takeout options, but hasn’t opened its indoor dining since shutdowns first began. That won’t change any time soon, Fries said.
“It would not be very conducive for myself or my workers for just 10 people,” Fries said. “It’s been working so well with the drive-thru and walk-up window.”
The restaurant has handed out several applications for work, but interestingly, haven’t gotten many back.
“It doesn’t seem that we’ve gotten an influx of people (needing work),” Fries said. “I haven’t heard of many people looking for jobs here.”
Fries anticipates business will take its usual course, going down a little bit as fall begins.
Tribune Smokehouse
The road to recovery has been slower and tougher for Davenport’s resident barbeque restaurant. While state health guidelines allow for Lincoln County restaurants to seat at 75% under Phase 3 of the re-opening plan, owner Debra Brickner said they “never saw” a 75% capacity during the early stages of Phase 3. Gov. Jay Inslee’s restrictions limit tables to five people.
“People are still afraid to go out, I think,” Brickner said. “But we’ve got great support from the community for to-go orders.”
Gov. Jay Inslee’s restrictions limit tables to five people. This hurts small businesses, Brickner said.
“Especially in this town, where we have such large families, to designate five people to a table is not realistic,” Brickner said.
Brickner estimated that business has been cut in half from where it normally would be this time of year.
“Things are not changing,” Brickner said. “Not to the good.”
Normally, Tribune employs eight workers. That number has been cut to four.
Brickner hopes that business will at least remain steady through the end of the year, because she said that’s what it will take to keep the restaurant alive.
“If it drops down, that’s kind of a scary thought, to be honest with you,” Brickner said. “We’re really trying to keep our people working, and it can’t get any less than we’ve got to keep our door open. That’s not good, because Davenport needs the three mainstays we’ve got.”
El Ranchito was not available for comment by press time.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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