The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced another restaurant in Chapel Hill to close its doors.

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe announced on Facebook that it will close its Chapel Hill location and will focus on its restaurants in Raleigh and Durham. The restaurant cited the initial closing time in March as a contributing factor.

“We had to shut down right before our favorite (and busiest) time of the year, March Madness. This in itself would have been a massive blow but little did we know business for many months to come would almost completely disappear.”

Additionally, Tobacco Road offered some insights into the struggles that restaurants are currently dealing with during the pandemic.

“Safe re-opening has meant numerous additional costs, things like signage, single-use menus, added outdoor seating and added cleaning measures. But mostly, people just aren’t eating or ordering out ‘like normal’ yet. In Chapel Hill, not surprisingly, a good chunk of our business depends on the University being in session. Although students are returning to campus, we know this year will be different in the foreseeable future and considering all of these factors combined, we just don’t see how reopening is possible.”

Under Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening, restaurants are permitted to serve a limited amount of customers in-person. Despite that option being available, some restaurants are sticking to delivery and takeout to limit physical contact.

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe joins several other restaurants in the Chapel Hill area that have closed their doors during the pandemic.

Lula’s and Lotsa Stone Fired Pizza have shut down on Franklin Street. In Southern Village, Town Hall Grill has closed but plans to reopen later this year as an Italian restaurant.

Featured image via Tobacco Road Sports Cafe/Facebook

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