SAN DIEGO — As San Diego County restaurants continue to struggle financially during the pandemic, some owners said they’re sticking to the guidelines set by the San Diego County Health Department no matter what.
Most restaurant owners said 2020 has been a complete nightmare financially. Some owners have decided they’re just going to defy the public health order and allow in-person dining. News 8 talked to one owner who said they’re hurting too, but saving lives is what they care about most.
“We’re all in the same boat at the end of the day. We’re all suffering. We all have responsibilities. We all have rent to pay,” said Dario Gallo, co-owner of Civico 1845 and Civico by the Park.
Gallo said he’s had to let go of most of his employees and only one location is open. Still, he’s choosing to comply with San Diego County’s public health order.
“We are also community leaders and so it’s our goal to prevent and to make people as safe as possible,” Gallo said.
Gallo said the skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases in Southern California worries him. He not only worries about his own safety, but for the health and safety of his customers and staff.
“We reduced all of our employees down to almost zero. There’s me personally doing delivery and my brother in the kitchen with another four people. We’re still concerned about those four people,” Gallo said.
San Diego County’s latest coronavirus case count is thousands of cases in one day, a record that seems to be broken as each day passes. As for ICU capacity, it’s at 16% for San Diego County as of Saturday. Gallo said if people are going to be asked to stay home, he thinks the federal government should be doing a better job of supporting businesses in the meantime.
”I think right now what really plays a big role is the release of the stimulus fund, for employees and for us as small business owners in order to survive,” Gallo said.
Gallo also said he completely understands other restaurants who have to make tough decisions about opening and closing. He’s praying he too can stay in business until the stimulus bill passes and can give everyone the financial boost they need.
