SPOKANE, Wash. — Restrictions barring indoor dining are officially in effect, forcing restaurants to decide whether they’ll remain open with takeout or close until protocols are lifted.
Several businesses in Spokane are feeling this overwhelming pressure, including the Steam Plant. The business just reopened earlier this month.
“We were open six days before we heard that we were going to close down again,” said Kelli Campbell, Steam Plant Director of Sales and Marketing.
A month-long hiatus is now on the schedule just as the restaurant was getting back into the swing of things.
When it comes to the hospitality industry, every business both small and large has faced historic challenges.
The Steam Plant is known for hosting events and its museum-like atmosphere serves as an ideal location for holiday parties.
It's not clear what could take place during Christmas this year. Gov. Inslee's latest round of restrictions are supposed to be lifted on Dec. 14, but businesses have already seen how this kind of situation can play out.
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“We had weddings, anniversary parties that had events here and we had to either move those to 2021 or completely relocate them, so everyone is being affected," Campbell said.
For a second time this year, employees are left wondering when they can get back to work.
It’s not feasible to retain the entire staff while meals aren’t being served, though there isn’t too much worry about the Steam Plant making it through this pandemic.
The same, however, can’t be said for local businesses across the region.
“Spokane is unlike any other community,” Campbell said. “We have a ton of mom-and-pop shops around here, which is absolutely incredible, but those shops need more support than ever.”