LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After another round of tight restrictions, some Kentucky restaurants are joining a growing number of COVID-19 casualties.
While some owners see the restrictions as devastating, but necessary, others are signing a petition saying they will reopen Dec. 14 with or without Gov. Andy Beshear's blessing.
Tuesday was a tough day for Highland Morning owner Michael Coe, as he had to make the tough choice to close his St. Matthews location.
"Carry out alone is not handling it for us, so we made a tough decision there,” Coe said. "Just this morning I had to tell a single mother that works for us who doesn’t have the funds for Christmas that I just don’t have any cards left to play.”
He said sales are down about 80% from last year. He still has his Bardstown Road location open for carryout as he continues to try to keep the business afloat.
Highland Morning is not alone. As other restaurateurs fear they may have to be the next to close if restrictions continue, thousands have signed a new petition saying they will reopen at 50% capacity on Dec. 14 no matter what Gov. Beshear says to do. One person who commented on the petition page said people are losing their livelihoods. Another said people can make intelligent choices without being policed by the government.
Coe said he is aware of the petition but did not sign it.
“I absolutely can sympathize with that opinion. However, I don’t think I am going to hop on that bandwagon yet. I side with science and medicine. I want to do what is safe for the public and our staff," Coe said.
He said if health experts say it is best to close down, then that is what he will do. However, he said it will be hard to weather the storm without some significant federal help.
"I think we should shut down, but there has to be some federal help. Otherwise, people are facing extinction economically. It's just a tough situation," Coe said.
In the meantime, he is asking people to continue to support his business by getting carryout at Highland Morning on Bardstown Road.
"We love you Louisville, and we need you," Coe said.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to the group behind the petition, the Kentucky Restaurant Rescue Coalition, as well as some restaurateurs who signed it. We will update this story if they return our requests for comment.