Boxcar40 in Pittsville will reopen with new business model due to COVID-19

PITTSVILLE, Md.- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one Pittsville restaurant is making significant changes for when they can reopen again, and that includes a new business model.

“It’s been a hard business to be in with this added to it, it’s almost impossible, so we’re kinda reinventing ourselves,” Paul Suplee, owner of Boxcar40, said.

When the coronavirus pandemic began, BoxCar40 had to close its doors causing them to take a major financial hit.

“Being closed for a month and a half I lost $90,000 dollars in revenue, so it’s a huge loss for us small business owners,” Suplee said.

In late April, the restaurant reopened for carryout only, but owner Suplee said he wanted to offer customers more than that.

So, he thought outside of the box and came up with a new concept for his restaurant that will still allow him to adhere to guidelines set forth by the State.

“So we have to be more aggressive about that and kinda shift our concept to more of a market,” Suplee said.

Suplee said the new market concept will give customers a fun place to go to for their food and he said there will be less moving parts.

“You can come here and get hot food and have some beverages, if you want to, or you can come to a counter and get packaged food, fresh seafood, fresh steaks that we will cut on site,” Suplee said.

And even though Suplee knows the risk is huge to reinvent he said he is already getting positive feedback on his vision.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people about this and they are so excited about it, and really we’re at a atmosphere and environment right where people understand,” Suplee said.

Suplee told 47ABC while he’s uncertain when he will open up his restaurant again he will continue to do carryout Thursday through Saturday.

Plus, Suplee wants to make sure his customers know that even though there will be a new business model, they plan to deliver the same customer service as before.