Markeshia Ricks Photo
Qulen Wright at Ninth Square Market II Caribbean Style, one of the restaurants pivoting to take-out.
A local professor has begun a Google Doc to help inform people how to support restaurants that are pivoting to take-out and delivery amid a statewide order to close dine-in service.
As of 8 p.m. Monday, those restaurants still open for meals must shut down throughout the tri-state area. They may remain open for take-out and delivery.
Quinnipiac University political scientist and Community Foundation for Greater New Haven board chair Khalilah Brown Dean responded to Monday’s announcement of the closing order by launching to Google Doc so people can find and add information about restaurants offering take-out.
Click here to access to the document.
As people hunker down for an extended period of social isolation to stem the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, local retailers are stepping up their food take-out and delivery options.
Paul Bass Photo
Atticus Cafe.
Atticus Bookstore Cafe is still preparing food, for instance, and having it available for take out. You can order ahead here. Owner Charles Negaro Jr. said he expects to have delivery service ready to roll later this week.
Elm City Market is offering free delivery through the end of the month …
… while Book Trader Cafe is making it easier to afford reading material for those hours nestled at home.
An earlier version of this story follows:
Atticus Appeals For Support As Other Stores Start Closing
Paul Bass Photo
Atticus Cafe.
Contributed Photos
As retails stores started closing in town amid the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, one business owner appealed for support in the form of gift cards so he can keep his employees paid.
The business owner is Charles Negaro Jr., who runs Atticus Bookstore Cafe on Chapel Street.
He reported Saturday in a community email that he’s following Mayor Justin Elicker’s guidelines of reducing occupancy at his business to help stem the spread of the novel virus. Sales at Atticus have dropped by half since last week, with an “unknown” few weeks ahead, Negaro added. For now, he reported, “our doors are open with limited hours and seating” while all food is available for take-out. The company is working on delivery options for its homemade foods.
Paul Bass Photo
Charles Negaro Jr. with his dad Charles Sr., from whom he took over the Atticus/Chabaso business late last year.
Negaro wrote that he has decided to stop taking any compensation for himself for now and is appealing to customers to purchase gift cards to help him “provide our staff with as much security as possible through these tough times.”
“We are all going through this together and it’s tough to ask the community for help, when you very well may be going through the same,” Negaro wrote.
“We are doing everything we can to continue safe operations for the benefit of our staff of 50 people.”.
Click here to purchase an Atticus gift card.
Other retail outlets have been closing their doors, including the Broadway Apple outlet. Apple has closed more than 450 stores in 21 countries, including its U.S. outlets. The company states that it will pay its employees during the closure.
New Haven is a smart, tough town: New Haven will prevail.