CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The world has changed quickly in the past couple of weeks as the COVID-19 pandemic has ballooned. The restaurant industry is no exception.
Restaurants in Illinois may now only offer carryout and delivery service— no dining-in — to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Chicago pizza maker Lou Malnati’s is taking extra precautions to maintain social distancing. It’s trying to avoid as much contact with customers as possible while still making its food available.
"One thing we’ve done is create an option for contactless delivery which means we can leave your delivery at your doorstep and let you know it’s there,” explains Malnati’s Chief Operating Officer Jim D’Angelo.
For carryout, where possible, it will be curbside delivery. Someone will greet you at your car and communicate to someone inside to bring out your order. That will help keep customers from standing around together inside a lobby, D’Angelo said.
He said the company is trying to use as many former dine-in workers as possible to keep people employed.
The executive predicts some of the adjustments will become part of the regular course of doing business after COVID-19 dissipates. He believes the new carryout procedure will be one of those.
"Our hearts go out to all our industry brothers and sisters. People are learning on the fly and doing the best they can do to adjust to the new way business is done right now,” he said.