Community support kept these Manatee restaurants afloat. They just reopened

A local couple became the proud owners of SOB Burgers in Bradenton nearly one year ago. Just as they hit a stride, the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to adapt.

On Monday, 45 days after Gov. Ron DeSantis closed restaurant dining, Florida eateries were allowed to open their indoor spaces at 25 percent capacity. Customers were also able to dine outside with 6 feet of separation.

Within 30 minutes of opening on Monday morning, Karla Marticorena and her husband, Cristian Disanto, welcomed their first table of regular customers at SOB Burgers, 5866 14th St. W. , Bradenton.

“I feel really excited,” Marticorena said. “I’m kind of lost after 40 days of being closed.”

Under the governor’s previous order, restaurants were allowed to offer deliveries and pick-up orders. Marticorena said her sales were cut in half and that 60 to 70 percent of their continued sales were made through Uber Eats delivery.

Major food suppliers were closed, and the cost of meat and cheese — vital supplies for a burger restaurant — were spiking during the pandemic. SOB Burgers maintained its normal prices to attract customers, she said.

SOB Burgers also moved a pool table, allowing for greater space between tables, but Marticorena knew that some customers were still nervous about restaurant dining.

She and her husband planned to celebrate their business’ one-year anniversary on May 11, and they hoped customers would trickle back over time.

“After this situation, we need to be more conscious about supporting local business,” she said.

5th Season Diner and Steak, 6515 14th St. W., Bradenton, opened its dining room at 8 a.m. Monday, welcoming four regular customers over the course of two hours.

The owners, Jae Jung and Jackie Song, drive three hours round-trip to operate the restaurant every day of the week.

The business was fighting to celebrate its third anniversary in November, but COVID-19 added to the everyday uncertainty that comes with operating a restaurant, said Jodi Syring, a server at the diner.

It was already a struggle to keep the restaurant open in past years, and it felt nearly impossible under the pressures of a pandemic, Syring said.

With plenty of space and its small customer base, the new capacity guidelines were no issue, Syring continued, welcoming a familiar face to the dining area.

“My guys have lost weight,” she said. “We’ll feed them.”

A new customer dined at the front bar while Joseph Markoya, a 5th Season regular, occupied a booth more than 15 feet away.

Markoya, who turns 90 years old in July, said he stayed home while the number of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths climbed in Manatee and Sarasota counties. With help from neighbors, Markoya was able to avoid crowded grocery stores.

His birds, a pair of cockatiels named Toby and Nicki, kept him company during the period of self-isolation. But on Monday morning, Markoya made an exception for his regular order of soup, salad and coffee.

“I like it here,” he said. “They’re nice people and I know they’ve been struggling. It’s not easy, but I wish them luck.”

Rodney’s Jamaican Grill, 814 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto, was busy doling out snapper and oxtail to half a dozen customers. The office manager, Sandra Leedy, said the community rallied behind the restaurant as COVID-19 challenged its normal operations.

“Locals have been really great about supporting the business, calling in and picking up their order, or getting their orders delivered,” she said.

Across the street, at Popi’s Place, owner Michael Ameres said he was happy to welcome back his staff and customers. Donning masks, the servers cleaned tables and washed their hands as customers began to return.

“It’s been really slow today, but it’s OK,” Ameres said. “It’s just getting people to gradually trust the restaurant and get back in.”

Out of his 44-person staff, less than a dozen people worked during the downtime, when business dropped by about 85 percent, Ameres said. He recently welcomed back the employees, and while most accepted his invitation, some were fearful about returning during the pandemic.

COVID-19 put a strain on his restaurant, but the community support was a bright spot during its recent struggles. With help from anonymous donors, Popi’s donated meals to first responders and health care workers, Ameres said.

“It’s been fantastic seeing this whole community come together and rally behind our businesses,” he said.

Rick and Kelly Jessop, who kept Katie’s Cafe alive during the government-ordered closing of restaurant dining rooms, reopened with sit-down service on Monday — with a noticeable difference.

Instead of 64 seats, there were 16 to ensure safe spacing between diners at the restaurant, 3130 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton.

“It’s a bit rough at the moment,” Rick Jessop said. “I have more chairs in my garage than I have in the restaurant right now.”

The Jessops have operated Katie’s for 6 1/2 years and built a loyal clientele with good food and a motto: “Where nice still matters.”

Among those dining in on Monday were Harrison and Kimberly Fenton, who came daily for curbside service during the time the dining room was closed.

“We love coming here, and have no hesitation. It is like family here,” Kimberly Fenton said.

While customers started to trickle back at several Manatee County restaurants, business was booming at Woody’s River Roo Pub and Grill, 5717 18th St. E., Ellenton.

Woody’s opened at 11 a.m. and welcomed several hundred people over the course of two hours. Located on the Manatee River, a majority of the restaurant is outdoor seating for bikers, drivers and boaters, an ideal space under the current guidelines, said Corey Davis, the general manager.

People come for the waterfront view and the live music, something you can’t deliver or pick up, and business was decimated under the recent closures, Davis said.

The restaurant employs more than 100 people, he said, and the vast majority were sidelined during the previous order. Davis said his top priority was getting employees back to work, citing Florida’s slow unemployment program.

“We gave them the option to take their time coming back,” he said. “We’re paying them even if they’re not here. We give them a flat rate, minimum wage, if they feel like it’s too soon to come back.”

Much like their customers, some restaurants were hesitant to revive in-person dining on Monday. The Anna Maria Oyster Bar, with its four Manatee County locations, chose not to reopen this week.

The business sent an email to roughly 30,000 people following the governor’s decision to include restaurants in Phase One of his reopening Florida plan. The email polled customers on whether the restaurants should open on Monday.

The owner, John Horne, said 49 percent of respondents said they would wait at least 30 days before eating inside a restaurant.

“I don’t care if we’ve got 100 percent capacity by the governor, if nobody’s comfortable it doesn’t matter if nobody’s coming out,” Horne said.

Horne said he would provide a safe environment for guests, but he also wanted to exercise caution before making the vital decision to reopen. The tentative date to reopen was May 11.

“If science lets us do that,” Horne said. “We want to see how the numbers shake out with people opening.”

This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 4:33 PM.