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GOING OUT TO EAT CYBERSAFARI

In the pre-pandemic era, I did not go out to eat very often. Family or business dinners were the only sporadic times to go to a sit down or table cloth restaurant. Since March, 2020, the lock down restrictions made it impossible to gather in public spaces. So I did not even try.

Like most people, you tried to keep the local mom and pop business in business. I'd go once a month to the local donut shop because I knew they lost their morning office orders and the weekend youth sports snack crowds. Fast food places were open, but local sales tax increase and the raging inflation (not recognized by the federal government) made combo meals more expensive than worth it. It has been a full year since I last had a fast food meal. Did that change my life? Not really. It seems to be healthier to cook food at home. Do I miss the corporate grease? Not really. If I get a twitch for a taco or burger, I go the franchise website menu and look at pictures. The craving passes quickly.

But humans are social animals. Zoom meetings can only fill so much of the void.

2021 opened up the public spaces just before the second and third virus surges. Two family weddings were held in the wobbly local business restrictions being lifted for a short time. Family members have started to try to get back into their old routines. But it is difficult. Many places have closed. Others have struggled with costs and labor shortages.

Last month was a prime example. First, my siblings wanted to go out for deep dish pizza. On a Saturday afternoon, we met at an award winning, suburban pizza place. It did not take reservations. When I arrived, the dining room was fairly empty. The sausage pizza was ordered but during the 45 minute wait, the room filled up with customers. It was packed. Social distancing not followed. Masks were not worn before the food arrived at the tables. You could tell by the conversation levels, people were excited to meet friends and family outside their homes. Let someone else cook and clean dishes.

The pizza arrived. It told the state of the food industry. The deep dish pan was only filled halfway with crust. The sausage was not a layer but a few small meat balls on the top. We discussed the food shortages and supply chain disruptions. And the roaring spikes in grocery prices (and the smaller food sizes). The food was okay; and a last piece was another meal. It was not that expensive: $50 for three.

The next week I had a business dinner. The restaurant was near O'Hare and the Allstate Arena. It was an upscale, fine dining venue. When I walked in, there were only two other tables (5 people). It was a Thursday night, but still our colleagues knew the place well and felt that the business was poor. The restaurant owners business had grown so much in the past they added a second dining room and then a banquet room. But now, most of their building was empty. The steaks and desserts were very good. We were the last to leave the restaurant at 8 p.m. In the pre-pandemic era, the place would be packed for a second seating.

Driving home, I saw many empty strip mall spaces empty. The lock down regulations have killed many small businesses. There were a few cafes in suburban down towns with banners yelling that WE ARE OPEN but the hours were only 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. How can one afford the taxes and real estate taxes when you are just open 4 hours a day for a light lunch crowd?

It seems small business food operators are being squeezed at both ends: regulation and high costs of supplies and labor. The labor shortage is acute for all food retailers. People do not want to work when unemployment benefits are generous. Some have become homebodies and computer freelancers.

Do you feel bad for small restaurant owners? Sure. Is it going to make you go out more often? No. A majority of those people out and socializing are risk takers - - - the variants of the virus and the lax attitude toward hygiene and common sense puts one on the defensive. Science studies have not come to any clear conclusions on the effectiveness of the vaccines or long term effects (including natural immunity). At work, we bleach wipe the office after each client consultation: doors, chairs, desks, etc. Yes, it is a time consuming precaution but it is now a routine like wearing seat belts in a car. But I noticed that the wait staff did not disinfect the tables after the guests left.

People want to rebel against the New Normal. They want to go back to the freedom for the Old Normal. But the old ways require a roll back of all the pandemic mandates and subsidies which is politically doubtful.

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THE WHETHER REPORT

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STATUS

Question: Whether Epic Games timid legal victory over the App Store change Apple's business practices?

* Educated Guess

* Possible

* Probable

* Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

* Doubtful

* Vapor Dream

Question: Whether Scarlet Johanssen's legal dispute with Disney over back royalties from movies that go to streaming and not theater sales affect Hollywood business practices ?

* Educated Guess

* Possible

* Probable

* Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

* Doubtful

* Vapor Dream

Question: Whether live professional sports will keep cable television relevant?

* Educated Guess

* Possible

* Probable

* Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

* Doubtful

* Vapor Dream

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