With COVID-19 now present in the community, many small businesses are eyeing ways to limit potential transmission while remaining open.
Local restaurants are promising to employ safety measures such as more frequent sanitizing, limiting the number of diners seated at a time and giving out condiments upon request, instead of leaving them at the table. Some, including Buckshot Saloon in Kingdom City, have switched to disposable paper menus. Others are taking more dramatic measures: closing dining rooms and introducing new ways for customers to acquire their food.
A number of national chain restaurants have announced plans to close dining rooms and switch to drive-thru and pickup/carryout only - McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Subway and Burger King among them.
As of Saturday morning, locally owned restaurants that have publicly announced major operations changes related to COVID-19 include:
Champ's Chicken (various locations)
Several Champ's Chicken delis have introduced curbside pickup and call-ahead ordering; call your local Champ's for more details.
Kingdom City
Buckshot Saloon (573-310-6363; 5701 Old U.S. 40)
The restaurant closed Sunday and plans to reopen after April 6. No delivery or take-out options are currently available.
Fulton
The Barnyard (573-592-4886; 5009 Pendergras Road)
Limiting hours to 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; normal hours (until 8 p.m.) Friday and Saturday. Open but also offering curbside pickup for those who call ahead to order.
Beks (573-592-7117; 511 Court St.)
Dining room closed. Curbside pickup available 11 a.m.-8 p.m. They're also offering free delivery of food, wine and beer - even outside city limits, if the order is sizable - from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 4-7:30 p.m. Owner Garry Vaught mentioned plans to begin selling make-at-home meal kits and launch online ordering.
Brooklyn Pizza (573-642-1122; 501 Court St.)
Dining room closed. Currently requesting customers to pay using debit or credit cards rather than cash. Delivery and takeout are available.
Dragon Kitchen (573-592-8888; 1893 N. Bluff St.)
Dragon Kitchen is still providing to-go buffet meals and carryout but has closed its dining room. Its new business hours are from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Fulton Country Club (573-642-3005; 701 E. 10th St.)
Now offering curbside pickup to all members and the public. Available Wednesday-Saturday, 4-8 p.m. Order via phone or online: fultoncountryclub.square.site.
Fulton Sub Station (573-310-6310; 102 N. Ravine St.)
Now offering carryout and delivery only. Customers encouraged to order online to limit the number of customers waiting inside: fultonsubstation.com.
GoPo (573-310-6416; 526 Court St.)
The gourmet popcorn bar is closing its storefront but will continue filling and shipping popcorn orders.
Jamolee's (573-642-8711; 2600 N. Bluff St.)
The bakery's lobby is closed. However, the drive-thru is open from 5-11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Additionally, they're offering free delivery within Fulton city limits for orders of at least one dozen doughnuts.
Lulu's Frozen Yogurt (573-416-0276; 18 W. 5th St.)
Now offering frozen yogurt to-go, 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit lulusfrozenyogurt.square.site to order and to see available flavors and toppings.
Ohana Pizzeria (573-826-3240; 61 W. 2nd St.)
The pizzeria is longer serving its lunch buffet and is instead running a lunch special. They're also limiting the number of customers seated inside. They've introduced free delivery and curbside pickup for customers who order ahead via phone.
Playhouse Bistro (573-642-6599; 613 Court St.)
The restaurant is no longer offering delivery or curbside pickup, and is temporarily closing altogether.
Tacos and Tequila (573-590-8899; 1205 S. Business 54)
Dining room is currently open with reduced seating capacity, and they've introduced delivery and curbside pickup when ordering ahead. The restaurant plans to introduced family meal packs and online ordering in the near future. They may also be able to provide fresh produce; email [email protected] for more info.
The Station (573-310-6446; 550 Commons Drive)
The restaurant is closed until further notice.
Millersburg
Serenity Valley Winery (573-642-9658; 1888 County Road 342)
As of Saturday, both the wine tasting area and outdoor seating area are closed. Curbside pick-up is available, and the winery is offering free deliveries within a 20-mile radius for those ordering six or more bottles of wine.
Holts Summit
Canterbury Hill Winery and Restaurant (573-896-9966; 1707 S. Summit Drive)
Occupancy is limited to 50, and tables are farther apart. The restaurant has also started offering takeout meals and "family-style takeout specials," with enough food to feed at least four. Call ahead to order.
Cameron's Country Cafe (573-896-5872; 172 W. Simon Blvd.)
The dining area is closed, but the restaurant is offering carryout, curbside pick-up and delivery. Delivery is available in the Holts Summit and New Bloomfield area only with a $3 delivery fee. Hours have been adjusted to Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pizza Works (573-896-5153, 138 N. Summit Drive)
Offering carry out and drive-thru window service. The restaurant's temporary hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
The COVID-19 crisis is evolving by the hour; if planning to visit or order from one of the above restaurants, please call ahead to ensure the information printed above is still accurate. Has your restaurant also made major COVID-19-related changes? Email [email protected] to add your restaurant to the online version of this article.