Give your customers plenty of socially distanced options

1. Give your customers plenty of socially distanced options Customers like to have choices, and it’s a good idea to present them with plenty of options. This will also make them more comfortable and make them feel reassured that you are conscious of their needs. The CDC suggests that you should offer delivery options wherever possible, as well as curbside pick up and drive-through. Encourage your customers to wait off-premises after they place a take-out order. Where possible, use smartphone technology to let your customers know when their orders are ready; that way, they won’t have to stay in a crowded waiting area while their food is being prepared. It’s also a good idea to give customers an option to order their food ahead of time, even when they’re going to be dining in the restaurant. That way, they will minimize the amount of time they ​spend in the restaurant itself​.

2. Final thoughts As a restaurant owner, your goal is pretty simple. You want to serve great food to your customers; you want them to be able to unwind and enjoy themselves in a comfortable, safe environment. That means that you need to inspire trust and confidence. Of course, COVID-19 does make this more challenging than it was in the past. But it’s still absolutely possible to keep your customers safe and happy. Maintaining a clean and wholesome atmosphere will go a long way toward keeping your customers safe and confident. Use top-quality, professional cleaning supplies, like Seventh Generation or Domex/CIF to create a sanitary and fresh-smelling environment. Post information about sanitary practices, and enforce your cleaning and disinfecting schedule. Set up social distance protocols and encourage your staff to stay home as necessary. We are all dealing with a lot of new concerns these days. ​Together, with a bit of patience and hard work, we can get through this, and we can emerge stronger than ever!