In addition to our normal news coverage, What Now Atlanta is tracking ways Atlanta’s businesses are adapting to the novel coronavirus and the challenges it brings to brick-and-mortars.
Ford Fry’s Little Rey restaurant in Piedmont Heights temporarily closed its doors late-last-week after employees fell ill with the novel coronavirus.
It’s the second time that the Rocket Farms Restaurants eatery has voluntarily closed its doors after workers caught COVID-19.
“Little Rey will be closed beginning today, 6/18, as we recently learned of employees exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19,” Little Rey wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday.
“Maintaining the safety and health of our guests and our staff continues to be our top priority to help stop the spread of the virus, we have notified all team members who may have come into contact with these individuals, and we have asked all staff to self isolate during the closed down period…”
Little Rey will reopen on Monday, June 29, “following a deep sanitization.”
Little Rey is on a shortlist of Atlanta-area restaurants that have been public about employees catching COVID-19.
The list is likely larger but restaurants and Georgia businesses, in general, are not required by law to disclose when an employee falls ill with the novel coronavirus.
As a matter of fact, restaurants with infected workers can continue to operate.
Earlier last week Pure Taqueria closed its Brookhaven doors after two employees caught the virus and the taco joint has not yet announced when it might reopen.
[Editor’s note: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving as is its effect on Atlanta, and the City’s businesses and its residents. Click here for What Now Atlanta’s ongoing coverage of the crisis. For guidance and updates on the pandemic, please visit the C.D.C. website.]
3 Responses
You have to respect Ford Fry for demonstrating concern for his staff and patrons, and for his transparency. This makes me more willing to eat at Little Rey as I know the staff is taking the virus seriously. I wish all businesses were taking these measures. The lack of care is just contributing the increased community spread.
I agree.
He and the other businesses that have taken the same approach have sacrificed quite a bit by
shutting down/disinfecting etc.
And given that there’s no law requiring these businesses to shut down, or go public, it’s quite admirable.
Completely agree. I’m much more likely to dine at LR or any of FF’s restaurants knowing that he’s not going to compromise his customer’s safety. It’s good policy and good business. When I found out that a steakhouse I like(d) eating at had multiple employees test positive and didn’t shut down or make it public, I immediately swore off this restaurant and don’t trust that they’ll place safety over profits.