Banks started dispersing the second round of paycheck protection loans on Monday. Meanwhile, some businesses are already using the first round of funding to reopen their doors.
Flowing Tide Pubs are looking to turn the tide on the woes they've faced during the pandemic. "This is our first test to see how long it takes," said Flowing Tide Pub co-owner Justin Moscove.
The Flowing Tide Pub location on Prater Way is cleaning up and prepping to reopen later in the week. Multiple Flowing Tide Pub locations shut down during the pandemic when the governor's orders placed restrictions on restaurants. Now, with a cash infusion from a Federal Paycheck Protection loan to help pay employees, the restaurants can open their doors once again. "Pretty much our only new costs is the food costs. We still have our rent and utilities but the loan will help soften the blow," said Moscove.
He says the business plans to re-open it's restaurants in a trickle down method, one at a time.
"It was emotional when the pub on Prater Way was shut down it was for real. There was a tear maybe that I had," said the pub's general manager Marko Boscovich. As unhappy as the employees were to see this location closed, they are now excited to see it open once again.
"It's like a second family. You know we all work together for a long time. and just getting the restaurant into shape is cool," said Boscovich.
The staff is doing an intense cleaning and the prep work that needs to be done. "We were thinking that we could flip the light on and be open. That's not the case at all. Every store is probably going to take minimum 4 days to get open again. I mean we have to start from scratch, ordering every bit of food and prepping the location," said Moscove.
Moscove says once the pubs are reopened, employees salaries will be based on an average of *what they made* monthly plus tips. He also says the restaurants cooks have been re-hired.
