If you are looking for ways to provide support to our community businesses in the midst of our much-needed social distancing and “stay-at-home” orders, there are most assuredly things that you can do to help, such as ordering take-out from local restaurants or shopping small. By shopping small, you support small, local businesses. In Shenandoah, local businesses are offering their customers a variety of ways to continue to enjoy their products and services, whether you look at restaurants that are now providing their customers with an array of curbside and delivery options, or local shops and retailers that are also providing online shopping with regular shipping or curbside services during this period of social distancing that we all need to follow.
On the restaurant front, you can go to our Restaurants that are Open and Serving page, and can see that they are providing a variety of delivery options. Additionally, a number of them that are not only providing daily dining specials, but are also providing dining options for couples and families. Some of those include: Avenida de Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse, Buca di Beppo, and Fielding’s Wood Grill, to name but a few. Others are providing unique ways to still get their products while their restaurants are temporarily closed, like Killen’s Steakhouse — it is currently providing its devotees with a number of “pop-ups” so its customers can continue to enjoy their incredible steaks and barbecue. Others are providing their customers with unique discounts like Babin’s Seafood House with 50%-off of wine and beer purchases with meal orders. Still others are providing discounts on future purchases when you purchase a gift card.
If you‘re not interested in discounts and deals, but want to see your spend have a direct impact on “doing good,” some restaurants are selling gift cards and using the proceeds to support their workers. One such example is Katz’ Deli, still open 24/7, which is donating 100% of their gift card sales to help support their employees. So, if you find yourself hankering for a meal from one of your favorite restaurants, take a few extra minutes to go to its website or social media channels to check out any specials that they might be offering, or special promotions they might be running, and you can feel good knowing that your purchases are also supporting your community.
On the retailing front, there are also a number of innovative ways that our local brick-and-mortar retailers are working to provide their customers with access to their products and services. One long-time Shenandoah business doing just that is Picket Fences, a home furnishing and fine gift store. They have made a lot of their store inventory available online so you can shop from the comfort of your home. As a result, they will either provide you with standard shipping or curbside service should you prefer to pick up your purchase. Give them a call at 281-465-4144 to learn more.
If you are able to support local restaurants and shops, you are making a contribution to helping each of them stay afloat during this difficult time. And don’t forget to tip your delivery people well during this time. By supporting one another, we will get through this together.