Loyal and true: Community lifts up Detour Grill and Bar during crisis
Owners of Detour Grill and Bar in Imperial appreciate how the community has rallied around their business, keeping their restaurant going strong during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bill Livingston and Terry Armstrong, a pair of 56-year-old Fox High School graduates, opened their restaurant, 2855 Seckman Road, in 2009.
“They (customers) really did stand behind us,” said Livingston, who lives in Arnold. “I had people eating from here three or four times a week to keep us going. They came up big for us, that is for sure.”
Livingston said he and Armstrong, an Imperial resident, initially saw a dip in business in mid-March, when measures were enforced to control spread of the coronavirus.
“When the COVID pandemic started, we had to do carryout and curbside for seven weeks,” Livingston said. “We did about 60 percent of our sales.”
But when Detour was able to reopen its dining room, Livingston said customers came back. Those who don’t feel comfortable in the dining room or on the enclosed patio are continuing to use the carryout option, he said.
“We are back to pretty much normal business, plus we have the additional carryout,” Livingston said. “Business is actually a little better now than pre-COVID. Our sales are up, even though we may be down inside. With carryout, we are actually above what we were doing at this time last year.”
Livingston said the 190-seat dining area in the restaurant is large enough to allow 6 feet between tables, and the enclosed patio was recently finished to give customers a more open-air dining experience.
He said the staff takes any precautionary steps a customer requests, such as wearing a mask.
“I think we are good to go moving forward,” Livingston said of the restaurant’s future.