Open For Business: Roadie Joe’s relying on takeout and delivery

SALISBURY, Md. – With restaurants in Maryland relegated to just carryout and delivery during the coronavirus outbreak, downtown staples like Roadie Joe’s in Salisbury are relying on their community to keep them afloat.

Owner Jeremy Norton tells 47 ABC that he had to lay off 75 percent of his staff on Monday after Governor Larry Hogan shut restuarants down. Now he says they’re doing what they can to keep up with carry-out and delivery orders.

“It’s pretty tough man, it really is, we’re doing everything we can for everybody we can,” Norton said.

The positive is that people are coming in. When 47 ABC was there the phones at Roadie’s were going off and Grub Hub drivers were coming in and out picking up orders.

“It’s absolutely important,” said customer Sherry Dashiell on coming in to get her to-go order and supporting Roadie’s,”You don’t want to see your local businesses close. This time can be devastating for everyone so it’s super important that we support our local businesses.”

For Norton, that support has made a difference. Not just monetarily, but emotionally too.

“I’m from Salisbury and you know I’ve always tried to give back as much as possible. I’ve seen the way this community rallies around other tough times and it’s really, really heartening to see what is happening around us. People are being kind and they’re uplifting and we’re going to get through this, it’s just one of those things, just another speed bump in life,” Norton said.

Right now Norton says they plan on keeping Roadie Joe’s open from 11 am-8 pm for delivery and take-out until the end of the week and then they will reevaluate. However he says he’s going to do everything he can to keep their doors open as long as he can.