Michigan restaurants are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new survey by the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association finds the industry lost $491 million in sales and cut 72,000 jobs in the first 22 days of March. The vast majority at 84% say total dollar sales volume from March 1 through March 22 was lower than the same time last year, while 9% say their sales were up and 7% report being steady. While those numbers are grim, they don’t look any better going forward, as 47% are expecting to lay off employees in the next 30 days after 62% said they already have. The survey found 9% of the respondents don’t think their business will survive the pandemic. Restaurants in Michigan and all other Midwestern states are currently limited to carry-out, delivery, and drive-through business only.
