Michigan bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters ordered to close doors because of coronavirus

LANSING – Michigan bars and restaurants, as well as gyms, spas, theaters and other public spaces, were ordered closed starting at 3 p.m. Monday, except for restaurant delivery and carry-out services, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the governor's office announced.

The executive order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is effective through March 30.

It applies to:

• Restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars, taverns, brewpubs, distilleries and clubs
• Movie theaters
• Indoor and outdoor performance venues
• Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios and spas
• Casinos

The order does not apply to:

• Office buildings
• Grocery stores, markets and food pantries
• Stand-alone barbershops or hair salons
• Child care facilities
• Pharmacies, drugstores, providers of medical equipment and supplies, health care facilities and residential care facilities
• Gas stations and convenience stores
• Juvenile justice facilities
• Warehouse and distribution centers, and industrial and manufacturing facilities.

Restaurants may allow five people inside at a time to pick up orders, so long as they stay 6 feet apart from each other, according to the order.

Michigan has 54 presumed positive cases of COVID-19, up from 53 on Sunday, the state announced Monday.

Generally, the order appears intended to limit congregations of people inside businesses to the greatest extent possible, while not shuttering food stores, gas stations, pharmacies, hospitals, and other operations most essential for daily needs or maintaining health.

Whitmer, who declared an emergency over the public health crisis Tuesday, cited her powers under the Emergency Management Act and the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act.

“This disease is a challenge unlike any we’ve experienced in our lifetimes,” Whitmer said.

“Fighting it will cause significant but temporary changes to our daily lives. By practicing social distancing and taking aggressive action now, the state is working to mitigate the spread of coronavirus so we reduce the risk that our health care system becomes overwhelmed." 

Several other states, including Ohio, Illinois, California and Massachusetts, took similar steps over the weekend.

The closures could have a significant economic impact. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association issued a statement calling on Whitmer to immediately submit paperwork to qualify Michigan for the U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan program "and to work quickly to infuse more liquidity for small businesses struggling to make payroll and keep their doors open."

"We remain committed to working collaboratively with the governor and other elected leaders to safely navigate the immediate threat from COVID-19 and look forward to collectively working to rebuild Michigan’s hospitality industry," said Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the association.

Winslow said in a news release the association supports the governor "in her decision to limit restaurant operation to carry-out, drive-thru and delivery during these extraordinary times." 

There are more than 16,000 eating and drinking establishments in Michigan, employing more than 450,000 people and generating $17.9 billion in estimated sales, said Emily Daunt, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association.

Diana Gilaj started to tear up Monday when she thought about her employees at L. Georges Family Restaurant in Farmington Hills.

She had already posted the sign on the door: “Starting today: Carry Out Only!!” and was getting ready to talk with her staff on what the next two weeks would hold for them and their jobs.

“I can handle myself for maybe a month without working, but for our employees, I’ve been there, so I know what they’re going to go through,” she said.

“By Monday, they’re not going to get a paycheck and I don’t know how they’re going to buy their food for their kids and themselves.”

Customer Mike Brady, owner of a body shop  located near the restaurant, has been coming to the restaurant since he was 10 and is a regular lunch customer. He was not happy about the order, but determined to come back often for carry out meals and have a few minutes with the restaurant staff, whom he considers friends.

“I think they’re kind of overreacting. If you clean the restaurant regularly and you take precautions and wash your hands, let it run,” he said.

Waitress Chris Lul, of Shelby Township, said customers have been incredibly generous, tipping way more than normal in the last couple of days as they anticipated slower or no business at the popular, Coney Island-style restaurant. But the short-term gain doesn’t stop her from worrying.

“We don’t know if we’re going to have a job and we can’t find another one because everybody is closing,” she said. “How long is this going to last and how are we going to pay the bills? Hopefully, it’s not going to last long.”

Brian Richter, president of the Motor City Theatre Organ Society, which owns and operates the Redford Theatre in Detroit, posted an online notice ahead of Whitmer's order, announcing its temporary closure.

"The health and safety of our patrons and hardworking volunteers come first," Richter said.

"This is very unexpected for us and I cannot think of a time in our history when something like this has occurred. We know how much our programming means to all of you and our community. We will be monitoring this situation closely and would like to assure you that we will be back as soon as safely possible."

Nick Gavrilides, owner of the Soup Spoon Café in Lansing, said he will have to temporarily lay off most of his 40 to 45 employees, but plans to increase his take-out business and look at the possibility of starting a delivery service, also.

"It's a really tough day," Gavrilides said. "We were definitely not prepared for this."

But he said he plans to continue to follow best practices and hope for the best for his employees and the rest of the industry. 

"I hope we can all get through this and come out on the other side of it better," he said.

A day earlier, many leading local restaurants such as Lady of the House and Mudgie’s Deli in Detroit and Mabel Gray in Hazel Park had already taken the proactive step to shutter temporarily without waiting for Lansing to act, though some were planning to stay open until the government told them otherwise.

Mike Ransom, the chef-owner of three Ima Noodle restaurants in Detroit and Madison Heights, was waiting for a directive to close before pulling the plug. He said his decision was on the advice of his insurance agent.

“We’re not closing until the city or state tells us to,” Ransom said Sunday evening, noting that business was down as much as 65% at his recently opened Midtown location.

Still, he said he didn't want to just pull the plug, opting for a gradual drawdown of hours and services instead.

There was also the fear, Ransom said, that closing up before the government mandated it could lead to a forfeiture of any potential insurance claim. 

Attorney General Dana Nessel said Whitmer's action was "necessary and appropriate in light of the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves and we will be working with our state, county and local law enforcement partners to enforce the order."

Nessel said her thoughts are with the workers and businesses in the food and hospitality industries. "It is heartbreaking that an industry built on service to others must be shut down to help protect and keep safe the families they call their customers and friends. In an effort to help them through this difficult and unexpected shutdown, I am asking our partners in the state and federal legislature to look for ways to help alleviate the financial impact of this shutdown."

The governor's decision Monday helped end some of the uncertainty plaguing bars and restaurants. 

Mudgie’s owner Greg Mudge had already made the tough call to close on his own, but applauded the governor's decision.

“It ends the stress everyone is going through wondering what we should do,” Mudge said. “It levels the playing field. I just wish we’d had this plan three days ago.”

Monday's action by the governor follows Sunday's announcement that the Michigan Gaming Control Board is working to close the three Detroit casinos under its jurisdiction.

Tribal casinos around the state are not under the jurisdiction of state authorities.

Brian Couture of Brownstown Township, a former chef whose wife works as a bartender, said families like his need immediate help to pay their bills and maintain their credit scores.

"Tomorrow night alone, St. Patrick’s Day, my wife would bring home between $500-$700 in tips alone," Couture said.

"That revenue is lost, never to be reclaimed. Unfortunately, most people in this country live paycheck to paycheck and missing one pay cycle puts people in financial ruin, which they will not be able to recover from for years."

Relief fund for restaurant workers

The Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation has established a crisis relief fund for workers. Donate at https://bit.ly/38Utqal.

More: Coronavirus live updates for Monday, March 16

Staff writer Kathleen Gray contributed to this report.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.