GREEN BAY, Wis — (NBC 26) -- Today we're learning more about the real impact of not allowing customers inside of restaurants. Ever since Tuesday night, restaurants across Wisconsin have not been allowed to serve customers within their establishment. That decision has forced many restaurant owners to begin thinking outside of the box.
On Thursday, at Al's Hamburger in downtown Green Bay, we learned that the owner is currently relying on customers to pick up orders, or use a food delivery service to have menu items dropped off at their home. But, even with those options the owner says he has had to temporarily let go eight of his ten employees, and he's also seen sales drop over 80 percent.
"As an owner I want to do what I can to help every employee, but your hands get tied pretty fast... Being this small might buy us a little more time, but a couple of weeks is about it," says Michael Wirz, the owner of Al’s Hamburger.
One thing that the Green Bay Rotary club is recommending, is for people to consider purchasing gift cards from their favorite small businesses now. The idea is that the money could help small businesses a great deal, as they continue seeing sales remain low.
