Bradenton restaurants launch online groceries to serve customers during pandemic
With their dining rooms ordered closed by Gov. Ron DeSantis because of the coronavirus pandemic, several Manatee County restaurants have found a new way forward by opening online groceries.
Among the first are the Chiles Restaurant Group’s Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key, and The Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave, Anna Maria, and Hugh Miller and Greg Campbell’s Pier 22 Restaurant, 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton, and Grove Restaurant, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch.
Also announcing an online grocery is Maple Street Biscuit Company at 8491 Cooper Creek Blvd.
“These are wild times that we live in. We went from 50 percent occupancy in the dining room, to curbside delivery, and last Wednesday we rolled out the online grocery,” said Greg Campbell of Grove and Pier 22.
Customers can go to pier22.com or grovelwr.com, browse the offerings, and place their order for groceries and/or food takeout that can be picked up at either location. Customers can also call to place their order over the phone.
Offered are high-quality ingredients, heat-and-serve family meals and paper products, plus wine, beer and liquor.
Among the 120 items offered are toilet paper, bleach, as well as meat, seafood, dairy, frozen food, and more.
“Starting Friday we will be able to do same day ordering and pickup,” Campbell said. “It couldn’t be any safer. We deliver it to the truck and you don’t even have to roll your window down. You’re in line 15 seconds to a minute.”
Normally, between Grove and Pier 22, there is a working staff of about 300. With the online grocery, the company is able to keep about 30 on the job.
Ed Chiles said his restaurants began offering online grocery ordering late last month at Mar-Vista and The Sandbar. A third restaurant, the Beach House Restaurant, is temporarily closed and is being used as a bakery.
Online orders to MarVista can be made at https://www.marvistadining.com/togo-menu. Online orders to The Beach House can be made at https://www.sandbardining.com.
Available are meals, fresh produce, grocery items, including toilet paper, package sales, and more.
The website for Mar-Vista and The Sandbar Restaurant invites customers to “explore our to-go and grocery menu, then scroll down to order.” Pick up is available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Customers picking up their orders at Mar Vista or The Sand Bar will have their groceries placed in their trunk by grocery staff and may remain in their automobile.
“We will continue doing this as long as we feel we are doing the right thing, and keeping people safe,” Chiles said.
At Maple Street UTC, Catalena Hanning wrote in an email that the restaurant specializes in southern comfort food with a modern twist.
“Right now, due to grocery shortages, we have also opened a community pantry. We are selling toilet paper, paper towels, cases of water, and frozen chicken to ensure the community can get what they need,” Hanning said.
Orders may be placed at @maplestreetbiscuits.com.
