Dine-In at Home and Order Takeout

Students grab food at the Santa Monica College Pop-up Food Pantry in Santa Monica, California on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The college started the service to provide meals for students who are food-insecure while classes are moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Elramsisy Maxim/The Corsair)

With closure of dine-in restaurants throughout California, the demand for takeout services has increased. Third party ordering platforms such as "Grubhub," "Postmates," and "DoorDash" have quickly grown in popularity due to current circumstances. Major food delivery apps have assisted owners during this transition to help generate income and keep business afloat.

Grubhub CEO Matt Maloney held a press conference in Chicago on March 13. He announced that the corporate company would be postponing fees for independent restaurants. Maloney has postponed the collection of about $100 million to offer relief to food industry workers. Still, many restaurants are struggling to stay open.

Local Santa Monica restaurants have transformed day-to-day operations and expressed concerns about serving the community. The competition between major chain restaurant and independent family business is challenging. Major chains can afford to broaden their presence on food delivery apps, putting smaller restaurants at a disadvantage.

The Sonoma Wine Garden located in Santa Monica is one of many small businesses overlooked on ordering platforms. “Being a small company, we got four different locations all throughout California that have all been shut down now. We are doing everything we can to contain cost so promoting marketing through those platforms is really not in the budget at the moment when we are worried about keeping our employees and benefits and everything covered,” said Cal Clarke, general manager.

The mandatory shutdown of nonessential businesses has been extended to May 15 in LA County. Currently dine-in restaurants are offering deals to help attract customers, including discounts on wine or family meals. Getting creative in marketing, some establishments have added special themes and gifts when ordering for delivery.

Kathryn Coker, co-owner of Esters Wine Shop and Bar has adjusted to recent changes by remaining innovative and positive. “We don’t have an online store so I’ve been doing some fun packages. This week I’ll be doing a quarantine essentials package including six different wines, some almonds, olives, bread, and a smoke trout spread. So, people feel like they are having a little bit of fun at least,” said Coker.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) released a Notice of Regulatory Relief on March 19. Temporary policies allow restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages to go. This new opportunity has motivated businesses like Santa Monica Brew Works to expand online partnerships.

“With the exception of our to-go sales from our Tasting Room, our sales are limited to ‘off premise’ locations like supermarkets, minimarts, etc. that sell our cans, said Santa Monica Brew Works co-founder Scott Francis.

Connecting with local restaurants online can help bring in revenue, so that restaurants can fully reopen when shutdown is lifted.

Corrections: Esters Wine Shop and Bar has since changed their quarantine essentials pack to now be served with chicken liver spread instead of smoked trout spread. Santa Monica Brew Works has updated their hours and is now open Wed/Fri/Sat from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.