Originally Posted by The Boz View Post
Originally Posted by mickeycrimm View Post
I'll get around to the Montana slot parlours in a later post. Montana started opening back up on April 24th. Phase 2 started yesterday, May 4th, which allowed bars/restaurants/casinos to reopen.

I was sick and tired of eating my own cooking for a month and a half. So beginning yesterday I started looking at the restaurants around town. I'm talking about the ones with just a dining room and no drive thru. They were all still closed. Same thing today. The state guidelines are pretty strict, social distancing, half the tables closed, cleaning requirements for tables/chairs after every use. Looks like a lot of these places have said f*** it!

I figured I'd go to Denny's. They're bound to be open. Not only were they shut down they had taken the sign off the building and everything. I seen a Hardee's that was the same way.

The dining rooms for all the fast food joints were also still closed. But the drive thru's are doing a bang up business. I couldn't find a place to sit down and eat yesterday or today. Had to eat in the car.

Looks like its the......unreopening.
Sounds like these restaurants may never be reopening. I am seeing more that in PA. 2 smaller restaurants that I considered “trendy” in my area announced they will not be reopening when and if the governor allows it here. Neither had a product that was conducive to Take Out and were priced about average. They certainly were doing ok when people had more disposable income but probably saw the writing about the future.

One was more for gourmet foodies and the other was a wine bar that specialized in small plates. Both award winning, which we all know is nice but doesn’t pay the bills. Sad for the employees, though many are making more sitting on their asses at home, at least through July 31st.

And of course I get calls, emails and texts almost daily from other restaurants asking if I’m interested in partnering or buying their restaurants and bars. Nope, no interest in the aggravation of dealing with employees or contributing to the state government in taxes anymore. It’s a Thankless job.

Hopefully you continue to write about what you are seeing in Montana Mickey, it’s interesting to see what’s going on around the country. Naturally from people actually there compared to the media’s coverage of only negative stories.
IIRC, there was a recession during the Presidential race of 1992. Bill Clinton promised extensions on drawing unemployment if elected. I'm sure this helped him gain votes. He came thru on the promise and delivered two six-month extensions. There were people that drew unemployment for a year and a half.

I think Dems will probably do the same thing for the 2020 election. They are going to throw up unemployment extensions to gain votes.