Like much of Wisconsin, The Roost, in Racine, was looking forward to the spring and summer months.
"We were just seeing an uptick at the end of February, beginning of March, and it was like okay we are starting to kick back in. Then we got shut down and everything fell apart," says Chris D'Acquisto, owner of The Roost.
As a restaurant that specialized in breakfast and brunch, Chris knew she was going to have to make some tough decisions when COVID-19 closed dine-in operations.
"It was heartbreaking to have to layoff your employees. We've gotten some really good employees, we are really happy with our staff and you don't want to lose them," says Chris.
Luckily, the kitchen was able to stay open during the past few months, keeping the business afloat.
"We ended up being able to do delivery and carry out. So it ended up being maybe 25 percent to 30 percent of our normal sales, but it kept us alive," says Chris.
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Making it to the other side, The Roost has reopened its patio and dining room.
"We have a lot of ways to go, we are nowhere near normal or where we should be for right now. But it feels good to see people walking through the door again and being able to sit down," says Chris.
If you've never tried The Roost, don't be shy. From fluffy pancakes to hot coffee, they've got everything to make your first meal of the day a great one.
"We have this huge chorizo breakfast burrito that's just amazing. Our omelets are just fluffy and filled with delicious things. Pretty much you can't go wrong," says Chris.
The Roost is opened Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to noon.