Peach’s begins to reopen restaurants. Two in Bradenton won’t be coming back from pandemic
Les Layton was going to have blueberry pancakes, and half of the omelet that his wife, Bonita, ordered.
Linda Schlitzer was having a club sandwich. Her husband, Bill, was having a chili hamburger.
The significance? Some of the Peach’s Restaurants reopened this week, and it was the first food the couples had been able to order from one in more than a month.
The Laytons and the Schlitzers drove down from Parrish to the Ellenton restaurant at 2207 60th Ave. E., which sits just outside Ellenton Premium Outlets.
“They have great food and a wonderful staff. We missed them a lot,”Linda Schlitzer said. “We have never had anything bad here. It’s our favorite place to come.”
Peach’s took its time reopening out of concern about the pandemic and safety for guests and staff.
“All aspects of our business have been affected by this unexpected pandemic and we continue to rise above this and become stronger together. We appreciate your continued business over the years and hope you understand the changes that need to take place that allow s to continue to serve our communities,” the company said in a message to its customers.
Friday, all of the Peach’s staff wore masks, and one employee outside under a tent, also wearing a mask, greeted guests.
“We are so happy to start welcoming you back to Peach’s! This has been a trying time during COVID-19 for our Peach’s family and we are doing our best to continue to serve our customers and bring back employees,” the company told customers Thursday in an online message.
The company’s Ellenton and Venice restaurants opened on Wednesday, followed Friday by the reopening of the Holmes Beach restaurant at 3240 E. Bay Drive, and the Sarasota Peach’s at 4292 Bee Ridge Road.
The restaurants at 5702 Cortez Road and 6057 26th St. W. will not be reopening, the company said.
Reopening dates have not yet been announced for the Peach’s at 7315 52nd Place E., 3201 Manatee Ave. W., 6386 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, or 5240 State Road 64 E.
With the new burdens placed on restaurants, Peach’s said that it is unable to continue its Rewards Blaster Program.
“We have tried to determine a way to keep this program, however, under the current restaurant environment it is not possible. As of today, we will no longer be able to honor the points and promotions that have accumulated. We are sorry to end this program and hope that you understand this is in the best interest for our customers, employees and restaurants,” the company said.
Peach’s is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.For more information about the company, visit https://peachs.net/.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 2:21 PM.
