‘It’s going to get better’: Local restaurant owner talks safety, purchasing business amid pandemic

ORLANDO, Fla. — Many Central Florida restaurant and business owners are working hard to keep up with the health and safety guidelines put in place by the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Many places require masks as well as properly spaced seating.

Wayne Walburg has been working in the Perkins family for about 50 years.

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He purchased a Perkins in the middle of a pandemic, which is no easy task.

Just before he took over the Winter Park location, businesses had to shut down.

“We shut down the restaurant right around the 17th of March, if I remember correctly,” Walburg said.

The restaurant didn’t reopen until mid-May. It brought back 31 of its 39 employees, and Walburg hopes to bring the rest back soon.

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He has taken steps to make sure customers feel safe before walking in by adding sanitation stations and making sure tables are six feet apart.

Although Walburg has only been the owner for 21 days, he said he’s staying optimistic.

“As time goes on, it will get better. Maybe it’s a dollar every week but I think it’s going to get better,” he said.

Cox Media Group