Restaurants Closing

We learned this week that several local restaurants are closing.

We talk to the owner of Blue Plate about his decision to close.

Toll on local businesses, with three chattanooga restaurants, including blue plate, announcing that they are having to close their doors.

News 12's kenan scott spoke with the owner of blue plate about how local restaurants have been struggling to get by.

"as it came down to our decision it was just about our signing back up and we just weren't in a position to be able to do that."

It was a difficult decision to make.

After nearly fifteen years, blue plate announced on facebook that they were closing their doors for good.

This announcement comes as a wave of chattanooga restaurants, including mojo burrito and chattanooga salad company, made the same tough decision.

Blue plate owner rob gentry says that navigating the restaurant industry during the pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges.

"obviously the last year has been challenging for the entire industry.

I'm sure none of us that are owners in the business right now have ever seen what we experienced over the last year."

Management at blue plate tells me that they hope chattanoogans continue to buy local to prevent other businesses from having to shut their doors.

"independent restaurants not only are employers, what we do for the community, how we bring people together.

I mean, they're just really important.

And it's just really important to do all you can.

You know, everybody plays a different role.

Government's helping.

People are coming and buying to-go food, you know, coming and spending time while they can in the dining rooms."

Gentry remained optimistic about the industry's future, saying that as vaccinations continue to roll out, he expects things to slowly get back to normal.

"people want to get back together, right?

You know i think we all miss breaking bread, you know, sharing food together, sharing drink together, and i think people are ready for that."

Reporting in chattanooga, kenan scott news 12 now.