INDIANAPOLIS – A west side restaurant is adjusting to the state-mandated carryout orders, but the owner may keep those restrictions in place longer than expected.
The coronavirus pandemic has been a roller coaster for Indianapolis chef and restaurant owner Tia Harrison. Harrison is the owner of Chef Tia & Co., located on Washington Street.
“I shut down for a couple of weeks in the very beginning because my husband got sick,” Harrison said.
Tia’s husband Brandon, an east side barber, is now OK. He’s among the seven people working at the restaurant.
Before the pandemic and stay-at-home order, Harrison said 70% of her business was dine-in. After shifting business to carryout, only delivering with DoorDash and UberEats, the calls for the honey hot wings, Cajun seafood alfredo and crab fries have been through the roof.
After finding success with carryout service, Harrison hired two additional employees and is committed to keeping the inside of the restaurant closed, even after the restrictions are lifted.
“I want to give myself at least a couple of weeks just to make sure that everything is good, we're kind of in a good place, and then I'll open the doors and allow people to start dining in,” Harrison said. “I just want to make its safe for all of my employees and my family as well.”
For now, the tables and chairs will stay stacked up inside the restaurant, possibly until July. Even then, seating will be limited.
“Because you don't want to put yourself in a place where you get sick or you get somebody else sick, because your customers are coming in,” she said. “Just kinda take it slow.”
“Because you don't want to put yourself in a place where you get sick or you get somebody else sick, because your customers are coming in,” she said. “Just kinda take it slow.”
