LISTEN: Hard hit by government closures and consumer fears of exposure to COVID-19, restaurants are on the brink

Fletcher’s, one of the restaurants at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, is closed to dine-in service but continues to offer take-out. (Tegan Hanlon/Alaska Public Media)

Bars and restaurants are once again closed to indoor drinking and dining in Anchorage, but some restaurant owners say they can’t afford another shutdown, and will defy the order and stay open. Other hospitality businesses across the state say they’re also hurting from reduced capacity and a lack of summer tourists. Some will close permanently. So what’s the best answer to keep people safe and keep businesses whole?

HOST: Lori Townsend
GUESTS:

  • Josh Tobin, general manager, Alice’s Champagne Restaurant
  • Sarah Oates, President & CEO, Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association (CHARR)
  • Travis Smith, owner, The Rookery Cafe & Bocca Al Lupo

PARTICIPATE:

Call 550-8422 (Anchorage) or 1-800-478-8255 (statewide) during the live broadcast.

Send an email to talk@alaskapublic.org (comments may be read on air).

Post your comment before, during or after the live broadcast (comments may be read on air).

LIVE Broadcast: Tuesday, Aug 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. on APRN stations statewide.
LIVE Web stream: Click here to stream.

Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.

Previous articleAlaska Federation of Natives convention will go virtual for 2020
Next articleMobile mammography truck will not visit Southeast this year