Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on March 26, 2020.

“It’s new territory for us. We’re going to be smart and shift gears,” said Floyd Country Store co-owner Heather Krantz to a customer who had come in for lunch last Tuesday. The store’s main dining room was closed, following Governor Northam’s announcement earlier that morning of a 10-patron limit in restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and other establishments in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Part of the Country Store’s efforts to shift gears includes the creation of Grab-N-Go take-out and a curbside pick-up service. “You can get our good soup and collards and take it home to feed your family,” said co-owner Dylan Locke. At that time, the store still had some limited seating available in the front of the building, as well as in the adjacent Soda Fountain, but the number of diners were being monitored, Krantz said.

Following national and state guidelines to limit crowds, the Country Store canceled their regular events, the Friday Night Jamboree, Acoustic Evenings, Americana Afternoons and Sunday Jams, through April.  On Friday March 13^th, the first Friday that the Jamboree was canceled, there was some music and dancing outside on the sidewalks, including dancers from Southern Irish Dance Tennessee.

Locke explained that they plan on live-streaming Friday Night Jamboree performances from the Country Store or from homes, so that patrons can enjoy the music in the comfort of their own homes. An online tipping mechanism will be set up so that patrons can financially support the bands and the venue.

Locke admits that “people are not going to love watching concerts on Facebook for long” and that the Country Store is not a fan social distancing (keeping 6 feet apart). Travelers come from all over to experience the Store’s sense of community first hand, he said. “We’re about coming together, dancing with strangers and enjoying each other’s company.”

Expressing his concern for the struggling musicians that make a living traveling and playing live, Locke said, “Hopefully, this will remind people what music brings to our lives.” He spoke about how the Floyd community pulls together, referring to the generosity of those who support the store’s Pay It Forward program, in which patrons buy meals via coupons that anyone in need of a meal can redeem. The program has been active for a few years and recently experienced an uptick in sales when the store posted online about adapting the program to cover Grab-N-Go menu.

“We can’t all just be in survival mode. We also have to be in the mode of ‘how can I help; how can I be part of the solution,” said Woody Crenshaw of Riverstone Farm. Crenshaw, one of the founders of SustainFloyd, thinks that the strategies being developed now will be beneficial down the road.

SustainFloyd is preparing for their first online board meeting. “This is forcing us to do something we wouldn’t ordinarily do, but we’re realizing it makes perfect sense. Why are we putting gas in our cars to get to a meeting on sustainability? Once we get through the coronavirus panic, and we will, we’ll be a more thoughtful and intelligent community,” said Crenshaw. He expects that the Farmers Market, a SustainFloyd project, will open as scheduled the first weekend in May.  The outdoor market will allow for social distancing, but they are also planning to create opportunities to take food to people’s homes, he said.

Like the Floyd Country Store, Dogtown Roadhouse and other local establishments are also providing take-out and curb-side delivery options in order to comply with the state mandated guidelines. “All events and live music are cancelled or postponed through April 4th in effort to safeguard the health of our community during this time of the COVID-19 health crisis,” Dogtown Roadhouse posted online.

Buffalo Mountain Brewery and McDaniel’s Tavern has cancelled live music weekends and their popular Tuesday night Bingo, and following a press conference by Gov. Northam on Monday, March 23 tightening restrictions, closed its seating areas as well. They are also offering a walk-up window service for to-go brews and growler fill-ups.

Mickey G’s Italian Bistro is encouraging patrons to order take-out and pay via phone. They are offering their full menu as well as trays of food for larger families or for freezing.  Red Rooster Coffee Roaster is encouraging their customers to switch to cards and contactless payment methods, to use their new mobile ordering app or call for To-Go orders.

The Parkway Grille canceled their Sunday Brunches, and by the following week had closed its doors entirely. Some local fast-food restaurants have window service and DJ’s Drive-inn has had curb service all along. The Blind Pig is making deliveries, and the Lush Lounge is taking private reservations for 2-8 people, according to a Facebook post. They also have patio seating for to-go meals. Many businesses have adapted their hours to adjust to the downturn of foot traffic and have posted their upgraded protocols for sanitation or shared them online.

Business was booming at the Harvest Moon Food Store over last weekend, following the announcement of school closings, said employee Brenda Hatcher.  Owner Margie Reddit said bread sales doubled, and they had to re-order a week early.  The store, which is roomy enough for social distancing, also sold a lot of homeopathic remedies, immune boosting supplements and herbs for strengthening the lungs. They are currently carrying locally made hand sanitizers.

The Blue Ridge Restaurant served under a dozen people daily last week, using their curbside and to-go service.  Staff was pared down to the chef and one server, Whitney Hatcher. Hatcher, who has young school-aged children, said her mother was watching her kids while she worked, but next week they will have to come to work with her.  With an empty dining room, they’ll have plenty of room to spread out. “Luckily, I can bring them here. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t,” she said, adding, “Things could be worse.” Shortly thereafter, the Blue Ridge closed its doors. – Colleen Redman