MADISON, Wis. — Business was hot when the Heritage Tavern opened in downtown Madison in 2013.
When business was at its best, they would have to turn away people on Friday and Saturday nights. But things have changed this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chef Dan Fox says on a recent Friday night, they only filled three tables.
Fox and the Heritage Tavern has done what they can to adapt, including shifting to a to-go menu and building a patio for outdoor seating.
Fox has other businesses in town, too, but says all are losing money and have lost about 70 of their employees, too. That’s why he’s pleading with the community to support local restaurants instead of national chains.
“It’s not just us,” says Fox. “It’s all local cheesemakers and farmers, produce, people at the Dane County Farmers Market. We shop more than 50 vendors throughout the season and they’re not getting that business, so that trickle down effect is severe, and it’s echoing through the entire community right now.”
Fox offered some suggestions on how you can specifically help the Heritage Tavern make it into 2021. That includes eating there while they operate at 25% capacity, ordering to-go, leaving a big tip or buying holiday gift cards, so you or a family member can go when you feel it’s safe.
This week, News 3 Now This Morning will be highlighting more stories of what restaurants in Madison are going through and how you can specifically help those businesses.
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