Businesses Improvising Due to Coronavirus Restrictions

NORTHERN CT — In addition to the well-documented effects the coronavirus pandemic is having on schools and town offices in northern Connecticut, Monday's announcement of further restrictions is already beginning to affect various types of businesses in the region.

Gov. Ned Lamont's order to limit restaurants and bars which serve food to distribution via take-out and delivery only, which goes into effect at 8 p.m. Monday, was already causing changes at the Country Diner in Enfield. One of the area's most popular eateries since 1996, the governor's order is forcing diner management to enact a system of providing take-out services to its customers.

Beginning Tuesday, customers may call the diner to place take-out orders, either by giving a credit card number or paying cash upon arrival, where their food will be delivered to their car by diner staff. Cash orders are asked to be as close to the total as possible, to limit the need to make change, manager Carrie Phimvongsa said.

The carside service will be available during all regular diner hours: Monday through Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.; and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Holiday Pizza of Ellington owner William Saxon said he is also looking into curbside takeout if possible, as did Joe Zucco of Dominic's On the Ave in Enfield and Basil's Restaurant in Stafford.

At Grassmere Country Club, situated near the Enfield/East Windsor town line, golf is open for play, but the adjacent banquet hall is already feeling the pinch of the governor's ban on large gatherings, which now numbers 50 or more guests for the next eight weeks. Banquet manager Jenny Kamerer said just hours after Lamont's pronouncement, she had already taken one cancellation and one postponement, with others sure to follow.

"There aren't many dates available," Kamerer said.

On the golf end of the business, Bill Kamerer said the course is fully open, helped by the recent mild winter. He said extra care is being taken to protect players, with carts being cleaned and washed after every use.

At New England Ski & Scuba in Vernon, staffers were trying to work out a system through which customers could turn in seasonal rentals outside.

With many residents stockpiling (some say hoarding) consumer goods such as toilet paper and bottled water, one niche business that is being impacted is liquor stores. Sal Vella, owner of Four Corners Package Store in Enfield near the East Windsor town line, said business has been brisk in recent days, with customers stocking up in case prolonged isolation is deemed necessary.

A regional liquor distributor, who serves numerous stores in Hartford and Tolland counties and asked not to be named, said, "The demographics are 100 percent affecting liquor and wine sales. Liquor sales are booming in towns like Farmington, Simsbury and West Hartford, because they can afford to buy multiple things and stock up. Stores in more working class towns like East Hartford and Manchester are struggling, as people do not have the ability to stock up as much."

Patch editor Chris Dehnel contributed to this story.