Good Morning it’s Thursday February 18th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Today --- As Gov. Jay Inslee announces relaxed restrictions, restaurant owners give a sigh of relief.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.
Restaurant owners give a sigh of relief with the return of indoor dining. They can finally begin the process of slowly recovering after months of closed doors.
Gov. Jay Inslee announced relaxed COVID-19 rules for much of the state last Thursday.
Inslee has also acknowledged that closures have been difficult, but that efforts have paid off.
And now, restaurant owners in Wenatchee and around the state are excited to be open.
Edwin Fonseca, is co-owner at La Tortuga Loca in Wenatchee. He told us that he feels like people are eager to go out and have the dining experience again -- which for them, is a good thing.
Because of the restaurant’s small size and ease of transporting food — tacos, tortas, enchiladas, and more — reopening under the governor’s Phase 2 rules is fairly simple..
Fonseca and his father also took pay cuts so they would not have to lay off employees when indoor dining was shut down, so they are in no rush to find employees now that things have opened back up.
Fonseca said he was optimistic about their chances and grateful to the community for their support.
But Alma’s Kitchen cannot afford to bring back more employees -- even while at 25% indoor capacity. Marco Ramirez, the son of co-owner Alma Ramirex said they were scrambling to get ready.
According to Ramirez the last shutdown hit Alma’s Kitchen during the worst possible time. They were down to the last dollar when the third round of PPP loans came through. Though they’re thankful, he said it seems like we’re always pushing it to the extreme.
And unlike La Tortuga Loca, takeout is not feasible for them. Alma’s Kitchen hopes to be back at 100% indoor dining in March, but for now, anything is better than nothing.
Ramirez also said that surviving each shutdown has left Alma’s Kitchen with huge debt from the Paycheck Protection Program -- the program that was originally a lifeline for them.
And with the prospect of returning back to Phase 1 -- takeout only -- well Alma’s Kitchen will do all it can to remain open, but without additional help it would be impossible.
Juan Murriz Arroyo, the owner of El Rey Azteca in East Wenatchee said that the move to Phase 2 is bittersweet. While it means that COVID-19 cases are going down, for him it’s also a reminder of how much he would like to see things go back to normal.
Before Inslee’s announcement on Thursday, El Rey Azteca was looking at one more month before they would have to close. Arroyo said he’s happy with 25% and will continue to adapt to the situation but much like Ramirez, he remains worried about returning to Phase 1.
Finally, we spoke with Craig Still, the owner of Garlini’s Napoletana in Wenatchee. Still said he is thrilled about the move to 25% indoor dining.
Garlini’s had been working with the “open air” protocols that were allowing customers to dine inside as long as people were spaced six feet apart, and windows and doors were kept open.
But with the transition to Phase 2, he no longer has to do that.
Thanks to a takeout program and their customers, Garlini’s was able to survive, and moving back to Phase 2 has infused some energy into the staff.
Next, For Valentine's Day, local residents shared their memories of love. Today we’re excited to share a few.
Jennifer Thacker found her picture-perfect ending at Liberty Theatre in 1991.
The East Wenatchee resident was 20 at the time. She was working as a box office attendant at the Wenatchee movie theater when she met her husband Sam. Sam worked at the local Domino’s, and his co-worker was dating Jennifer’s co-worker. Sam tried to get the co-worker to give him Jennifer’s number, but was too shy to ask in person.
So Jennifer ultimately took matters into her own hands.
She went into Domino’s and asked him out.
For their first date, Jennifer got free tickets from the theater to see the newly-released Blake Edwards film “Switch”. A year later Jennifer and Sam were married at Lincoln Rock State Park, and they have remained together since.
The Thackers were just one of 30 Wenatchee Valley residents to share her memorable location of love for The Wenatchee World’s first Locations of Love map.
Here are some other highlights:
Bob H. found his high-school sweetheart at Cashmere High School:
They met in high school and got married on prom day -- It was cheaper to rent the tux once than have to rent it twice. They’ve been married almost 30 years.
Victoria V. gave birth to their love at Central Washington Hospital:
Victoria’s first Love Location was at the Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, where she gave birth to her daughter Payton-Olivia.
And a few of our readers celebrated love at Mission Ridge:
Brian H had one of his first dates with his now wife at Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort. She had never skied before and he wanted to teach her how. Time went by and he ended up popping the question in that same location. They’ve been married for four years now and still go skiing all the time.
Melanie R said she and her husband both grew up in the Wenatchee Valley but met after high school. They love the outdoors. They set their wedding date for August 8th of 1998 at Mission Ridge. They’ve been married now for 22 years and still live in the valley.
And finally, Anne and Rod H. were sitting on the top of a rock at graffiti corner on Mission Ridge Road after a good day of skiing --- they drank a beer, looked out at the valley, and were thankful for the good life they’ve had.
To check out more of these stories view the full map online at wenatcheeworld.com/locationsoflove.
Clare Barron is a playwright and actor from Wenatchee. In 2015 she won the Obie Award for Playwriting for You Got Older. She was also a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Dance Nation.
Barron became interested in theatre in her early teens. She was in a Shakespeare troupe for children Wenatchee, which was run by the playwright Heidi Schreck’s mother, Sherry Schreck. Barron went on to attended the Tisch Summer Program while in high school, and then Yale University.
Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.
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