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Restaurant makes changes to survive pandemic in fall, winter

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Posted at 5:41 AM, Sep 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-11 06:41:52-04

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Restaurants and bars are adjusting to cooler temperatures as they operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

At Coach’s Bar & Grill, owner Brian Darby said he’s making changes at his newest location on College Boulevard in Overland Park to keep customers safe and comfortable in the fall and winter.

“We are going to try to manipulate our outside space as long as we can. We’re adding fire pits, we’re adding garage doors. Trying to keep the air flow, but in closing it to make people as comfortable,” Darby said.

The pandemic created challenges like the cancellation of corporate parties and family gatherings.

Darby said despite the setbacks the pandemic has posed, there’s one silver lining.

“We were supposed to be opening up on St. Patrick’s Day. Thank God we didn’t, we'd be dead in the water. We had construction delays and it pushed back our opening. It would have been a disaster otherwise," he explained.

The restaurant owner explained that during the pandemic, business has been “not great, not bad, but okay.”

As the weather gets colder, Darby is bracing for what could follow.

”I’m going to be paying my dues pretty soon. By the end of October, it’s going to be rough," he said.