By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
Local businesses, restaurants and places of worship in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights have had to adapt and change rules after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order temporarily limiting restaurants to carryout and delivery orders because of the coronavirus.
The March 16 executive order also temporarily closed restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, bars, taverns, brewpubs, distilleries, clubs, movie theaters, indoor and outdoor performance venues, gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, spas and casinos.
According to a press release, restrictions did not apply to office buildings, grocery stores, markets, food pantries, pharmacies, drug stores, and providers of medical equipment and supplies, health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, juvenile justice facilities, warehouse and distribution centers and industrial and manufacturing facilities.
Businesses were still able to offer their items through delivery service, window service, walk-up service, drive-through service and driver-up service while continuing to practice social distancing.
Only five people are allowed inside restaurants at a time to pick up orders, as long as they stay six feet from each other.
Whitmer’s executive order has caused several local restraints to adjust their services and the closure of other businesses.
Restaurants such as Bangkok 96 Restaurant, Senate Coney Island, Famous Hamburger, Rex’s Golden Grill, Joe’s Top Dog, Leo’s Coney Island, Pizza Kitchen, Leon’s Family Dining, Terry Melt, Xushi all offer carryout or curbside pickup on orders online or over the phone.
In addition, Umburger Grill is providing 25 percent off phone orders for carryout on a minimum $5 order and one free gallon of Kangen Antioxidant water with every $20 purchase.
M Cantina has 30 percent off carryout orders until March 30 with curbside pickup and delivery to local customers; Trio-Eats is offering free delivery on orders over $40 and free delivery within 10 miles; Big Al’s Pizzera is providing free meals to students in need; Fratelli’s pizza cafe is offering free delivery to families in need; King’s Bakery is providing curbside orders and delivery for bulk orders; Lava Java Two is offering free delivery; Sheeba Restaurant is providing free online order delivery and carryout orders; Now Cafe is offering free delivery for orders $20 and over in Dearborn; and Khalaf Grill’s is beginning delivery for orders $15 and above for free.
Brome Modern Eatery began offering 50 percent off online orders, and is providing curbside pickup and delivery. Also, it has a free healthy lunch option for families with children in need.
Shatila Bakery is providing free delivery to Dearborn and Dearborn Heights customers and carryout options. LaPita is offering curbside pickup along with free delivery in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights and free catering delivery to businesses.
Roman Village and Antonio’s Cucina Italiana are temporarily offering carryout, take-and-bake, and temporary home delivery in a limited delivery area where deliveries will be left on porches, doorsteps or another requested area.
Noah’s Smokehouse decided to close following the executive order.
On March 19, Whitmer announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved her request for a statewide Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration, opening the opportunity to small businesses to access low-interest loans from the SBA.
“The EIDL designation means that Michigan small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and nonprofits that have suffered substantial economic losses as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak will now have the ability to apply for low-interest loans as part of $1 billion in funding made available to the SBA by Congress earlier this month,” the press release said.
Other businesses were impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
All public venues at The Henry Ford closed March 12, which includes the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour, the Giant Screen Experience and the Benson Ford Research Center through April 5.
Fairlane Town Center closed March 17 and reopened March 19 with reduced hours following a deep cleaning. The Wayne County Health Department altered the center that a visitor who attended AMC Fairlane 21 on March 10 is a presumptive positive case for the coronavirus.
Dearborn Restaurant Week has been postponed, and no new date has been announced.
Papaya Fruit Market is offering a ordering service of groceries over the phone for senior citizens age 60 and up with pickup between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at both its Dearborn and Dearborn Heights locations.
Dearborn Fresh Supermarket was reported for alleged price gouging when it reportedly hiked the prices of hand sanitizers and other products by 900 percent, according to a press release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Five complaints were received by Nessel who urged the store to change the prices, and that an investigation is ongoing.
The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce is providing businesses with resources on its website, www.dearbornareachamber.org during the coronavirus pandemic.
Places of worship began closing and suspending all religious activity, public events and gatherings effective until further notice.
American Moslem Society, Christ Episcopal Church-Dearborn, Dearborn First United Methodist Church, Islamic Center of America, Islamic House of Wisdom, Islamic Institute of Knowledge and Littlefield Presbyterian Church continue to prayers or sermons by posting them on social media, YouTube and through streaming services for the public.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])