“Great American Takeout” Launched to Support Restaurants

(March 22, 2020 8:45 PM) A group of restaurants from around the country is backing a new campaign called the “Great American Takeout” in a bid to support the struggling restaurant industry,  hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Tuesday, March 24 has been designated “Great American Takeout Day”.

Besides Michigan, several other states have ordered dine-in restaurant operations to close.  The shutdown is creating significant economic harm in the restaurant industry.  An estimated 15 million people are employed in the sector.

All restaurants in Michigan can still offer take-out, delivery and catering service and the coalition is asking Americans to order at least one delivery or pick-up meal on Tuesday to show support for the industry.

Many Jackson area restaurants are offering take-out service and JTV is maintaining a listing here.  Restaurants are invited to submit their information here.

Jason Martinez, General Manager of One North Kitchen and Bar said, “Takeout is going as well as can be expected.  We’re looking forward to continuing our hours of 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM.  We’re also doing curbside pickup as well as contact-free delivery or standard to go orders.”

Some restaurants are also able to deliver beer and wine.  “Because of the style of liquor license we have, We can also deliver bottled beer and wine,” said Martinez.

Laughlin’s Slice of Spice in Spring Arbor was just recovering from slow business during a major 6 month road construction project in front of their restaurant on M-60.  Mary Laughlin, owner, said, “We just got our footing back and now this. Today’s announcement is that there will be no dine in until April 15th at the earliest. We’ve always done a pretty good carry out business but now we need it more than ever. We’re in our 10th year, but certainly didn’t expect it to be like this.”  Laughlin’s Slice of Spice posts menu and hours on their Facebook page.  Since the switch to takeout only, they are open until 7 PM.

In the Governor’s order shutting hair, nail, and other personal services businesses, Gov. Whitmer extended the closure of all restaurants until April 14.  All public accommodation closures previously announced have been extended to April 14.

In a release, the group cites conclusions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration that there is little evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food or packaging.

“This is no longer about the survival of individual restaurants,” stated Russ Bendel, CEO of The Habit Burger Grill, a member of the coalition. “It’s about the future of our industry. And time has run out. Together, we must act to support each other and our communities in unprecedented ways.”

To participate in The Great American Takeout, Americans are being asked to post on social media in advance of the event, encouraging friends and followers to take part in #thegreatamericantakeout.

The coalition also urges people to engage friends, family and colleagues to support their local restaurants by ordering takeout meals on Tuesday (and beyond) and  sharing photos on social media tagged with #thegreatamericantakeout.

After The Great American Takeout, Americans are encouraged to continue supporting local restaurants and industry employees by ordering takeout regularly throughout the weeks and months ahead.

The ad agency working on the project, High, Wide & Handsome, says #TheGreatAmericanTakeout took shape to encourage new behavior starting on Tuesday 3/24. It’s the start of a longer-term initiative to encourage takeout in this new stay-at-home context.