
5

"I run a retro American–inspired spot serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner downtown (located in the Renaissance Nashville Hotel), and we shifted to a limited menu on March 12, then limited hours on March 16, and then closed temporarily on March 20 in response to COVID-19. Closing the restaurant and having very difficult conversations with my staff was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do — this wasn’t because I ran a bad business or people didn’t like our food, it was the crisis taking us by surprise — but I’m choosing to take it glass half full (of beer, most likely). I know we will rebound fast because there are no better people than those in hospitality to handle harsh demand, hard work, and quick change; now is a forced opportunity to focus on taking care of ourselves and our families, and I hope people remember to support us when bars and restaurants reopen." - Delia Jo Ramsey