4-22-20 restaurants concerned about longterm future

The president of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association is concerned that  the governor’s extension of the Safer at Home order could force half of the state’s restaurants to close permanently.  Kristine Hillmer says many restaurants won’t be able to make it until May 26.  “We think at least 40 percent of our restaurants are closed and even those that are remaining open, some of them aren’t going to be able to make it,”  Hillmer told WFDL news.   “It’s a very real possibility that over 50 percent of our restaurants are not going to be around even at the end of May to reopen and make this function.”  When restaurants do reopen, Hillmer admits there will be no grand reopening.   Masked waiters, half-empty dining rooms, disposable menus and mobile ordering may be part of the  new reality.   “We’re working on plans right now that we are trying to help the governor figure that out in the meantime,”  Hillmer said.   “We think that perhaps restaurants could open at a 50 percent capacity and then as the transmission rate is reduced or the curve is further flattened maybe 75 percent and ramp up.”