TAMPA, Fla. — The coronavirus pandemic is hurting restaurants around the country. Many cities and states ordered all restaurants to stop people from dining in. They can now only offer take out or delivery.
Experts believe same-store sales fell by at least 20 percent since the beginning of March.
RELATED: Chain restaurants offering free delivery amid pandemic
A coalition of restaurants is hoping to reverse that. They are holding “The Great American Takeout” on Tuesday, March 24, to help boost sales.
Participating restaurants include:
- Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar
- Auntie Anne's
- Bartaco
- Beefsteak
- Black Bear Diner
- Buddy Brew Coffee
- California Pizza Kitchen
- California Tortilla
- Chevys Fresh Mex
- Clean Juice
- Cold Stone Creamery
- El Torito
- Forbici Modern Italian
- Jason’s Deli
- Irish 31
- Lemonade
- Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
- Meat Market Tampa
- Modern Market
- Noodles & Company
- Panera Bread
- Primanti Brothers
- Qdoba
- Shari’s Restaurant Group
- Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill
- Sorrento Sweets
- Sprinkles Cupcakes
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf,
- The Habit Burger Grill
- Tocaya Organica
- Torchy’s Tacos
- Tropical Smoothie Café
- Veggie Grill
- Which Wich Superior Sandwiches
- ZaLat Pizza
Some restaurants are offering special deals.
Panera Bread is offering 25 percent off all delivery and rapid pick-up orders using code FIELD4051. It is also offering to include a “bakers in training kits” with every order which kids can use to decorate rainbow cookies.
Qdoba is offering a promotion where customers can enter to win a $100 gift card by following the chain on Instagram and tagging three friends.
And Applebee’s is offering free delivery. For additional deals, you will want to check each restaurant's website and social media pages.
Organizers of The Great American Takeout is encouraging restaurant lovers to participate in the event online using the hashtag #TheGreatAmericanTakeout.
