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"Business has gone down by about 25 percent. But we’re staying open because we need to pay our workers and pay our bills,” said Keisha Armstrong, owner of Talk of the Town.
The restaurant on Limekiln Pike has been serving her West Oak Lane community for decades, and it hasn’t only been about the authentic Jamaican cuisines on the menu, it’s also about the work.
“A lot of times in the neighborhood people have a hard time just looking for jobs. So we just try to be there for them. We’ll hire them and train them. Come on let’s do the work. We’ll try to get it done,” she added.
Armstrong has found some relief. While some regulars can’t make it in, others are still working and calling in those essential orders.
“We still have a couple customers who are still working, who work in the medical field and gas stations,” she said.
If restrictions require her to close her doors for an extended period of time, she said she’s not sure how her restaurant could survive.
Armstrong said over the years, her goal has been to feed the community and offer work or opportunities to those in the neighborhood who’ve fallen on hard times. She said now, they need her more than ever.
“Government saying you can't do this, do that, we’re just trying to stay afloat,” she added.