The Maple Tree Inn experienced gotten off to a great start following their Feb. 7 start in their new Homewood place, but the following month Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a remain-at-residence get that set an end to all in-dwelling dining at restaurants.
The only choice for continuing operation was to do carryout.
The cafe, which specializes in Cajun and Creole food, opened in Chicago in 1974 and afterwards moved to a spot in Blue Island. The house owners ordered the former Cottage on Dixie location in Homewood final August.
“When we knew we’d be opening in Homewood, takeout was always component of the organization model,” said owner Erich Wennberg, who owns the restaurant with wife, Katie. “When we opened, we have been much too active at first to do takeout, but we applied take out in our organization design. We pivoted instantly and didn’t have to shut down for a one working day.”
Carry-out assistance continued and even though an announcement was built that the point out would permit outside eating starting May well 29.
18849 Dixie Highway
Homewood
(708) 388-3461
mapletreeinrestaurant.com
Fb: Maple Tree Inn
Twitter: @mapletreeinn
Instagram: @mapletreeinnrestaurant
Wennberg stated the suggestions were released just a few times prior to that date and he knew he wouldn’t be organized to securely open up in that limited timeframe. A truthful total of logistics, expense and organizing would be concerned in re-opening the dining home, not to point out the availability of materials that would be necessary.
The restaurant ongoing to do takeout only right up until June 24. On June 26 they switched above to indoor only. Wennberg claimed they’ve worked tough to guarantee protection of staff and visitors and are meeting all of the tips and past. Each individual desk is spaced out with plexiglass dividers in involving. The HVAC program was upgraded to redesign the air movement so that the air falls straight down. There is hand sanitizer on each table. They’ve also been constructing up an stock of gloves, masks and antibacterial goods, which Wennberg stated has taken months.
“The largest response we have gotten from shoppers is that they come to feel harmless. Which is so important to me,” explained Wennberg. “It took a great deal of planning to get it proper.”
In addition to all the sanitizing safeguards, all staff members are sporting masks at all occasions and because April 1 they’ve been undertaking temperature checks of workforce and vendors. They are also executing get in touch with tracing and having staff members keep a log. Wennberg claimed they’ve been fortuitous to not have any incidents of diagnosis of COVID-19.
He also had an prospect during the remain-at-residence get to get concerned with the group “Cocktails for Hope,” which was instrumental in urging Illinois lawmakers to permit firms to offer cocktails to-go when they ended up unable to serve liquor inside of their companies. “It’s been a lifeline for a large amount of men and women to continue to keep their doors open,” he explained. “We were being in a position to adjust the legislation in a thirty day period and a 50 percent. There are rigorous suggestions, but it’s presented a different earnings stream.”
“We’ve experienced a good re-opening and we owe a massive thank you to our clients,” stated Wennberg. “Our target is to give a minimal perception of normalcy. We want to be minimum intrusive as doable while being a lot more rigid than the state guidelines. We want to see people today having fun with themselves and we want for two hours to transport clients away from everyday living.”
Wennberg said he’s quite happy to have opened in Homewood after 1st conversing to Mayor Hofeld about it various decades in the past and viewing how he has been capable to satisfy his vision for the business enterprise group.
“Everything he explained he was likely to do, he did — and on time, if not early,” mentioned Wennberg. “The Homewood-Flossmoor place is a special put where individuals are so supportive of small corporations, and they definitely welcomed us.”
When small business moved to carryout only there were being modification created to the menu to streamline factors and give meals that transported very well. Now that the dining home is open up again and it has transpired all over the time that the summer season menu would have been launched anyway, consumers can appear forward to a whole menu with various appetizers, entrees and desserts.
