While restaurant dining rooms are closed and many are self quarantining, this can be a hard time to work in or own a local business.
In downtown Lafayette, many restaurants are working with the Downtown Development Authority to combat the loss of foot traffic and dine-in business. This is where the idea for the “Toot n’ Scoot” zones came to be.
"Place an order online or over the phone and they can basically drive up to a parking meter designated in front of the place of business, toot, or honk, and the restaurant will come out to them and give them their food to go," says Anita Begnaud, CEO of the Downtown Development Authority.
To ensure the food is clean and safe for consumption, beyond regular measures, restaurants are taking extensive precaution.
"The name of the game is sanitation, sanitizing every surface, especially frequently touched surfaces. We're leaving the door open during the day, so we don't have to touch the door and things like that," says Collin Cormier, who owns Pop's Poboys.
Spoonbill is also taking precautionary measures to make sure their customers and employees remain uninfected.
"We're making sure everything goes in single use containers and sanitizing hands before and after that exchange of goods. We're letting the customer keep the pen that they're signing with. We're not going to put anything at risk just to do business," says Jeremy Conner, Executive Chef and Partner at Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant. He is also getting creative with new ways to keep employees busy and customers happy.
"We thought it would be great to keep some of our employees employed by allowing them to make delivery runs for us," says Conner.
"We're all in it together and supporting local business is important right now just so we can keep the doors open," adds Cormier.