Introduction
The Waffle House, a beloved Southern diner chain, has announced that it will be temporarily closing 40 of its locations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This news comes as a shock to many, as the Waffle House has been a staple in the South for decades. The chain is known for its 24-hour service, and its closure will have a significant impact on the communities it serves. The closures are expected to last until the pandemic is under control, and the company is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its customers and employees.
Waffle House Closes 40 Locations Temporarily
Waffle House, the iconic Southern diner, has announced that it will be temporarily closing 40 of its locations due to the coronavirus pandemic. The closures will affect locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The company said in a statement that the closures are necessary to protect the health and safety of its customers and employees. The company also said that it is working with local health departments to ensure that the closures are in compliance with local regulations.
The closures come as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States. Many states have issued stay-at-home orders and other restrictions to help slow the spread of the virus. Waffle House said that it is taking the necessary steps to protect its customers and employees.
The company said that it is offering its employees paid leave during the closures and that it is working with local health departments to ensure that the closures are in compliance with local regulations.
Waffle House is one of the most iconic restaurants in the South and has been a staple of the region for decades. The company said that it is committed to doing its part to help slow the spread of the virus and that it will continue to monitor the situation and adjust its operations accordingly.
First, restaurants were hit hard by the pandemic. Then, inflation kept customers away. And last week, Hurricane Ian swept through Florida, battering the already suffering hospitality industry in its wake. Initially a Category 5 storm, then downgraded to a Category 1 storm, restaurant owners watched as their businesses were crushed, swept away or damaged beyond repair.
According to Nation’s Restaurant News, one 24-hour breakfast chain is such a reliable presence on the restaurant scene in the Southeast, that its decision on whether to keep restaurants open or close them during storms is a good indicator of how severe the weather conditions will be. Naturally, Hurricane Ian managed to shutter dozens of their locations over the past week.
As many as 40 closures in the past week
During Hurricane Ian, Waffle Houses temporarily closed 40 of its Florida locations, according to Nation’s Restaurant News, despite being infamous for rarely if ever closing for weather-related reasons. The popular chain has been an unofficial weather indicator for national disaster severity. If the status of its stores is green, then they’re up and running; yellow reflects a limited menu; while red means locations are temporarily shuttered. The restaurants that had temporarily shuttered were in the direct path of the hurricane or were in flood-prone areas.
The chain is now working to reopen locations
But Waffle House will not be leaving customers without their waffle fix. As of Friday, 34 of the 40 shuttered Waffle Houses reopened with minor damage. The chain is working to open the remaining six restaurants in Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Northport, and Port Charlotte as soon as possible.
Sign up for our newsletter!
Pitching in during the hurricane chaos
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrived at a reopened Waffle House in Charlotte County, Fla. on Saturday to feed hungry linemen, according to Fox Business.
“WaffleHouse is one of the first restaurants in Charlotte County to reopen and provide hot meals as we work together to serve Floridians after Hurricane Ian,” DeSantis tweeted. “Thank you for providing meals to the linemen working to restore power.”
As Waffle House does its part to get back up and running—and to help volunteers working in Florida—other restaurants are also trying to do their part. Miami restaurants including Abbale Telavivian Kitchen, Inika Foods, Red South Beach, Sergio’s, Zalie Cakes, and more, are hosting fundraisers and donating portions of their profits to Hurricane clean-up and restoration.