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Owner and primary chef Terry'¯Kasotakis, along with general manager Paul Johnson, were optimistic the bottom line would improve once the weather got warmer. "We all were weathering the storm through January and February," Johnsonsays. "We were just kind of holding our breath for April because we have a big outdoor section and it's very popular, and it holds a lot of people." Last week, business at the Virginia eatery was down 90%. "It was horrid, horrid," Johnson says. "We're concerned'¦Most of us don't really know where this is all headed." The operators of Mediterranean Breeze Restaurant in suburban Washington, D.C., hoped business would improve as the weather warmed and patrons could sit in the popular outdoor area.weather would improve business The operators of Mediterranean Breeze Restaurant in suburban Washington, D.C., hoped business would improve once the weather warmed and patrons could sit in the popular outdoor area. Virginia allows law enforcement to enforce a 10-person limit in restaurants. Several U.S. states have gone furtherin an effort tostem the spread of coronavirus. The governors of California, Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Washingtonstate are among those who have ordered restaurants and bars to close their dining rooms, limiting the establishments to carry-out or delivery service. "We ought to be worried about the mom-and-pop type bar [or] restaurant less than we do Disney, which has the resources to muscle through this," says Ball StateUniversityeconomist Michael Hicks. The U.S.Congress is considering measures that would expand lending to small businesses impacted by coronavirus. Those loans wouldnotmake up for financial losses, but they could make it possible for an establishment to stay afloat. "The problem with a small restaurant, if you close, you still have to pay your insurance, you still have to pay an electric bill, you still have to pay rent," Hicks says. "And so, if you could borrow enough money to make those payments for six weeks, you're still going to have lost money, right? But you'll still be able to open, perhaps." Anwar Halteh owns Waterfront Pizza in Foster City, California, outside of San Francisco. Although he expects to lose 70% of his business,Haltehis optimistic his business can survive, despite being forced toclose downhis dining areas, which include a scenic outdoor section by the water. "I expect (carry-out) to give us maybe 30% of business, but we cut down our overhead by 80% so we should be able to be okay," he says. "I let everybody stay home because I don't need servers to take food to the tables.So,I only keep three people in the whole restaurant cleaning and cooking." Images from the website of Waterfront Pizza, in Foster City, California, which is adapting to the lack of dine-in customers due to heightened state and local coronavirus restrictions.. Images from the website of Waterfront Pizza, in Foster City, California, which is adapting to the lack of dine-in customers due to heightened state and local coronavirus restrictions. As a small-business owner,Haltehsays he cannot afford to keep paying the employees he doesn't have any work for. But he is hopeful that things will eventually be back to normal. "I think, after it's over, everything's going to be a booming economy,"Haltehsays. "I feel optimistic." Back in Virginia, the folks who run the Mediterranean Breeze can only hope business will soon be back to where it was. "I'm optimistic and hopeful that the virus situation will start to subside in the next fiveto10 days, although I know a lot of the professionals are saying that's not going to be the case," Johnson says. Terry Kasotakis, owner of Mediterranean Breeze Restaurant in suburban Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy Paul Johnson) Terry Kasotakis, owner of Mediterranean Breeze Restaurant in suburban Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy Paul Johnson) He doesnotexpect the restaurant, which has been in operation for 15 years, to survive more than a month if business doesnotimprove. "The local businesses that aren't supported by major corporations, the national chains, those are the ones that are really hurt here," says Johnson, who hopes more people will consider giving their carry-out business to restaurants like Mediterranean Breeze. "You know, an extra 30 of them (pickup orders) a week might be the difference between that place still being here in six months." Related Stories A customer eats a bowl of soup at a deserted food court in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles, Feb. 27, 2020. [137]All About America [138]Is it Safe to Eat Out, Grocery Shop in the Age of Coronavirus? Several U.S. states close bars and restaurants in effort to stem spread of COVID-19 Default Author Profile By [139]Dora Mekouar Mon, 03/16/2020 - 15:14 New York's Chinatown Quiet Amid Coronavirus Outbreak [140]Coronavirus Outbreak [141]New York's Chinatown Quiet Amid Coronavirus Outbreak In Chinese communities across New York City, the local economy has also been hit hard by the outbreak of the coronavirus. Business leaders in Chinatown in New York have called on the government to introduce emergency rescue measures to help Chinese businessmen survive the difficult times. Zhang Zhen reports from New York. Default Author Profile By [142]Zhang Zhen Thu, 03/19/2020 - 01:56 Renowned Chef Repurposing Restaurants as Community Kitchens Amidst Coronavirus Scare [143]Coronavirus Outbreak [144]Renowned Chef Repurposing Restaurants as Community Kitchens Amidst Coronavirus Scare '¯ As the coronavirus spreads across America, many cities are ordering restaurants and bars to stop offering in-house services Default Author Profile By [145]Julie Taboh Wed, 03/18/2020 - 23:20 Default Author Profile Written By [146]Dora Mekouar (Submit) (Submit) (Submit) (Submit) (Submit) [147]Twitter [148]Instagram [149]Facebook [150]YouTube [151]RSS Search VOA News ____________________ (Submit) Search * [152]United States [153]US Politics + [154]Immigration + [155]All About America + [156]Silicon Valley and Technology * World News [157]Africa + [158]The Americas + [159]East Asia Pacific + [160]Europe + [161]Middle East + [162]South & Central Asia * Sections [163]Arts & Culture + [164]Day in Photos + [165]Economy & 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