Jordan Beck | Daily Press Rosy Cox, owner of Rosy’s Diner, prepares Reubens at her restaurant Monday afternoon. All restaurants and bars in Michigan were ordered to close to dine-in customers Monday.

ESCANABA — After all restaurants and bars in Michigan were ordered to close to dine-in customers Monday, representatives of local eateries spoke about how they expect the change to impact their operations.

On Monday, March 16, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that restaurants and bars would have to temporarily close to dine-in customers by 3 p.m. that day — another step taken in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses were allowed to remain open for takeout, drive-thru and delivery services.

Becky Moody, owner and general manager at Hereford and Hops in Escanaba, said she felt these restrictions were somewhat excessive.

“It wasn’t unexpected, but I don’t feel like it’s justified,” she said of the announcement.

She said she is primarily focused on finding a way to support the people working at her restaurant while keeping the business afloat during this time.

“My major concern is for my employees — I’ve got a lot of single parents working here, people with no other source of income,” Moody said.

Moody does not plan to offer food for takeout at Hereford and Hops during the closure, noting that takeout has traditionally made up “1 percent” of the restaurant’s business. The restaurant will have some food for sale in the deli of adjacent convenience store Gust Asp, which Moody also owns.

Hereford and Hops will continue to sell beer, as well.

“We will have takeout beer available,” Moody said.

People planning to buy beer will have to call ahead. A phone number for these requests will be posted on Hereford and Hops’ front door.

At the Ludington Grill, owner Shad Holmberg said he has also had to think about what to do regarding his employees and “probably $20,000” in inventory. The restaurant will be shifting to a takeout-only model for at least the next few days.

“We’ll probably have a smaller crew … but we’ll see how it goes,” Holmberg said.

Though the Ludington Grill’s business has been “under 5 percent takeout” in the past, Holmberg expected takeout to become more popular now that dining in is no longer an option in Michigan.

“You would certainly hope so,” he said.

Rosy Cox, owner of Rosy’s Diner, was strongly against Whitmer’s decision.

“I just can’t believe it’s happening — I can’t believe one woman can shut the state down singlehanded,” she said.

Among other issues, she questioned the fact that restaurants and bars had to close to dine-in customers the day before St. Patrick’s Day — a day typically associated with strong sales at many of these establishments.

“St. Paddy’s Day is some people’s number-one day of the year,” Cox said.

The holiday is an important one for Rosy’s, which sells corned beef dinners, Reubens and homemade corned beef hash. The restaurant will offer delivery today only; however, it will remain open for takeout.

Some local restaurants — including Bobaloon’s Cafe — had been doing most of their business through takeout before Monday.

“We’re already about 80 percent takeout,” owner Mark Ammel said of business at Bobaloon’s.

Because of this, he said Bobaloon’s will focus on helping customers who typically dine in with the process of ordering over the phone.

“We’ll do everything we can to make it easy for customers to come in,” Ammel said.

Ammel encouraged people in the area to support local restaurants during this time — especially those they do not normally get takeout at.

“Don’t forget to call all your other favorite restaurants that you frequent,” he said.