Restaurant Closes Dining Room Voluntarily

Casey Albritton talked with a business owner in Marshall County about how she is preparing to take a financial hit.

Made the decision.

Casey?

These "dining room closed" sign were just put up this weekend -- and now the restaurant is only doing curbside pickup.

Owner crystal ditto says she expects to lose money -- but tells me it's worth it to protect her employees.

Crystal ditto/ owner "we're just trying to do our part to get that number down."

Sierra's mexicanisimo owner, crystal ditto, says it's important for local restaurants to put safety first.

Crystal ditto/ owner "until the governor that face masks are necessary, i think it's going to take small business owners to step up."

She says she's noticed a lot of people in arab not wearing masks or social distancing.

Crystal ditto/ owner "i would just hate for one of our employees or family members, or my children, to be sick because of carelessness on someone else's part."

Ditto posted this on facebook on saturday-- saying "we are committed to doing our part to flatten the curve."

Crystal ditto/ owner "customers are really appreciating it that we're taking the initiative to kind of put everyone's health on the forefront."

Ditto says the restaurant will most likely make half the money it usually makes when the dining room is open.

Crystal ditto/ owner "i think we will survive, but it's going to be hard.

It's going to be really really hard."

She says the restaurant has a lot of regular customers -- and she hopes they understand the decision.

Crystal ditto/ owner "we are just banking that those people who supported us all these years will be back when those doors open again."

Ditto tells me the restaurant dining room will most likely be closed for about two weeks.

And when those two weeks are up, she will take a look at the coronavirus numbers and decide whether or not to re- open.

Live in arab, casey albritton, waay 31