Restaurants at the ready for dine-in Friday, May 15
By Tom Peterson
Bryan LaRoque of Route 30 Burgers, Bottles and Brew on East Second Street The Dalles has been sizing up his restaurant.
The carpenter knows his trade.
“We can get 45 people in here including a maximum of 10 people at our group table,” he said on Tuesday.
Essentially, Route 30 is going to use every other table to provide enough social distancing.
Wasco County received phase 1 re-opening approval from Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday, allowing for limited dine-in at restaurants.
“We are not headed back to what we all have known as 'normal', but it's progress,.. Wrote Wasco County Commissioner Scott Hege on Facebook.
LaRoque said all bars will be required to close at 10 p.m. Curfew.
“COVID has a bedtime,” he quipped.
Down the street, Zim’s Brau Haus also plans to open for dine-in customers on Friday.
Dine-in services were shut down statewide on March 16, and local restaurant owners had to change up their strategies.
“We thought it was going to ruin us,” LaRoque said. “But then I thought about it, and it is going to make us stronger. Being a business owner, it’s like a marriage. There is always a rough patch. But you just say, Alright, this is what we’re going to do.”
LaRoque and wife, Johna, for instance began cooking $20 family meals such as Lasagna with dessert for take out.
“It is really popular,” he said.
And support from local businesses started pouring in.
Route 30 and Zim’s for instance shared catering jobs for Safeway, Oregon Veteran’s Home and Coastal. LaRoque said he brings his full staff in on Wednesdays.
Bargeway Pub owner Steve Kane had a total of 14 employees working on Tuesday, providing meals to 400 medical providers a day and first responders.
Mid Columbia Fire and Rescue recently praised Bargeway on Facebook for the effort.
SIDE PROJECT
LaRoque erected the new Route 30 sign, a project he has been working on for the past two years. You can’t miss it at 317 E. Second St. It follows the Route 30 gear theme and sticks out almost four feet from the side of the building. It’s at a height of 20 feet. The gears can move with the wind. A small rubber chicken is attached for good luck - an ode to local Robbin Neuberger who has brought LaRoque rubber chickens for years. The artful piece, produced by LaRoque and his dad,Frank, 79, is getting much praise, he said. People from around the country have seen it online at The Dalles Mainstreet and are calling him.
LaRoque is also working with Zim’s to create new signage that will emphasize the sports bar. Did I mention, LaRoque built signs with Mark Randolph locally as well as with Terry Johnson in Wenatchee. He also refined his carpentry work in Anacortes, Wash., working on yachts.
OUTDOOR SEATING
On Wednesday, Bargeway’s Kane worked with Summit Excavation’s Cody Watley and Ken Matley. Kane is adding a stage and 249 outdoor seats on the east side of the restaurant. On Wednesday, they needed 30 more blocks to finish the retaining wall. That’s 1,800 pounds worth. The site, previously surrounded by chain link fence, offers a Columbia River vista. The $50,000 project was prime for the downtime. Kane hopes to have it open by summer. Even under social distancing constraints, he can seat 100 in the stage area.
AROUND TOWN
LaRoque said several restaurants are currently undergoing upgrades, including the Portage Grill at the Shilo Inn and the Baldwin Saloon.
The Highway House is also undergoing a major renovation. Fine Finishes had outfitted the building with a room for Lottery and was working on sheetrock last week.
BUSINESS RE-OPENING GUIDELINES
In Phase I, counties can begin the limited reopening of the following sectors under specific safety guidelines, according to Oregon.gov.
Restaurants and bars for sit-down service
Personal care and services businesses, including barbers and salons
In-person gatherings of up to 25 people
Counties must remain in Phase I for at least 21 days before becoming eligible to advance to Phase II. If counties begin to see significant increases in COVID-19 cases or community spread, the Oregon Health Authority will work with local public health officials to evaluate what actions should be taken. Significant growth in COVID-19 spread could necessitate a county moving back from Phase I to a stay-home status.
Bryan LaRoque and Router 30 Burgers, Bottle & Brew will open for dine-in services on Friday. With social distancing in effect, he has 45 seats, he said. LaRoque has used the recent downtime to finish the new sign seen here, a two-year project.
Bargeway Pub’s Steve Kane, right, is adding a stage and outdoor seating with the help of Summit Excavation’s Ken Matley, left, and Cody Watley.
