Felicia Suzanne Restaurant is responding to the coronavirus pandemic with Operation Take Out. Noting that quarantines do not have to include your taste buds, Felicia is giving customers the ability to order online and then pull up to their back door, which would be the alley (Center Lane) that runs between Madison and Monroe. They will bring your meal out to your car. They have a lunch menu (available in the evening) and a dinner menu. Pick-ups available between 4:30 and 8:00 PM. Here are links to their Operation Take Out order form and the credit card authorization form. They can do delivery to nearby locations too.
Uber Eats and GrubHub are waiving their delivery fees when you order from independently-owned restaurants.
The IRS is extending its tax payment deadline to July 15 due to the coronavirus.
New York City, which limited restaurants and bars to take-out and delivery this week, is temporarily allowing those businesses to sell to-go cocktails. Memphis, if the bars close, might want to consider that.
Rizzo’s by Michael Patrick is offering curbside pick-up service.
Central BBQ is offering curbside pick-up as well.
Longshot is temporarily suspending operations. From their Facebook post, I get the feeling this might have been Arrive Hotel’s decision rather than the bar’s management.
Chef Tam’s Underground Cafe out in The Edge District will be closed today for a thorough cleaning and will re-open tomorrow.
3rd and Court diner is restricting its hours to Monday-Saturday 7 AM-1 PM and 5 PM-9 PM, Sunday 7 AM-1 PM. Dammit, that 1 PM closing time is going to prevent me from using those gift cards I won at bingo. Thank goodness that and replacing the umbrella I lost Saturday are the worst of my worries, though.
Jimmy John’s Downtown location will start closing at 5 PM until the coronavirus threat passes. Carry-out and delivery only.
The Memphis airport announced its preparations to prevent COVID-19. Maggie O’ Shea’s Pub and Moe’s will close temporarily, as will checkpoint C.
117 Prime is closed today while the management meets and determines the restaurant’s plan of operations moving forward.
Huey’s will remain open but they are eliminating trivia night and Sunday night live music at all locations. Guests will be temporarily banned from shooting frill picks into the ceiling. If you’re friends with your server, for the time being you won’t be able to hug them or shake their hand when you come in.
McEwen’s will be open as usual for lunch, but for dinner they will stop seating tables as of 9 PM. They may re-evaluate and cut back even more.
Bass Pro at the Pyramid is still open regular hours, but they are canceling all their Spring Fishing Classic and Easter events.
The Better Business Bureau is warning the public about coronavirus scams.
Downtowners won’t be able to catch a movie at the new Malco Powerhouse for a while. Malco is closing all of its locations.
Friends of mine are being laid off on a daily basis. My thoughts are with those of you who find yourself without work as we enter these unprecedented times. Check out jobs4tn.gov, the state’s website which has a surprisingly large number of listings for good jobs at all levels, whether you bag groceries or supervise accounting teams.
Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin warned Republican senators yesterday that unemployment could reach 20% if bold action is not taken.
The Daily Memphian has a photo gallery of an unusually slow St. Patrick’s Day on Beale Street.
The Rendezvous has shut down dine-in service. They are still offering carry-out and curbside orders.
Bill Dries of the DM explains what Mayor Strickland’s declaration of a state of emergency means. In short: It doesn’t mean any businesses are forced to close down. Yet.
The event I refer to as “The Lawrence Welk Show of drinking games” won’t be happening next month. Adios, au revoir, auf wiedersehen.
Good night!