From beer to tools, businesses deliver
Flathead Valley customers are getting more than a few special deliveries these days as local businesses adjust to limit the spread of COVID-19 throughout the community.
Bars and restaurants are closed for dine-in, and community members have been urged to stay home as much as possible, but valley residents can now receive pizza, a six-pack of beer and construction tools all on their doorsteps. Many local entrepreneurs have turned to delivery options to serve their customers.
“Now delivering beer,” the sign reads outside Pizza Hut in Columbia Falls. Pizza Hut’s delivery drivers can now drop off alcohol and pizza boxes at their customers’ front doors.
Businesses throughout the valley, such as Mavericks Roadhouse and Casino in Lakeside and Whitefish Handcrafted Spirits in Evergreen, have also started delivering adult beverages to valley residences in order to continue to serve the largely homebound population.
Delivery has become a lifeline for many local businesses in this unprecedented scenario. Even Nelson’s Ace Hardware in Whitefish is delivering products to its customers.
Many local restaurants have added delivery options to stay afloat, although Alex Maetzold at the Buffalo Café in Whitefish acknowledged getting delivery drivers up and running is a complicated process due to training needs and insurance requirements.
Other establishments, like Sykes Diner, Grateful Bread and Tea Kettle Asian Kitchen, are relying on their partnerships with app delivery services such as Café Courier, GrubHub and DoorDash to keep customers fed throughout the pandemic.
“We’ve seen increases in orders,” said John Allen, co-owner of Café Courier. The Bozeman-based delivery company provides delivery service for restaurants throughout the Flathead Valley, such as McKenzie River Pizza Company and Panda Express. Allen said the demand from customers and the interest from businesses has increased throughout Montana this month, although he said there was “not a huge spike overnight.”
Café Courier is also offering a few incentives for customers and businesses, since the company recognizes the challenges the service industry currently faces, Allen explained. “We have specials to help restaurants and customers,” Allen said.
There is a statewide promotion for free delivery customers can access with the promo code localfirst, and Café Courier is also cutting the sign-on rate by 50% for new restaurants through the end of April.
“It’s a really good way to generate sales for them and we want to be able to offer that at the lowest price we can,” Allen said.
Plus, Allen pointed out, “we’re always looking to add drivers,” which could help the thousands of local workers who have been suddenly laid off because of the virus outbreak. He said some drivers may be eligible for sign-on bonuses. However, he noted the delivery industry could be negatively affected as some potential customers hold back on spending money on restaurant food during this uncertain time.
“It changes day to day,” Allen emphasized.
He also explained Café Courier’s delivery system has been optimized to keep the drivers and customers safe from the virus. The company has implemented contact-less delivery, where customers do not have to come into contact with drivers for tasks like transferring boxes, passing credit cards or signing receipts. Delivery recipients can even specify instructions when they place an order in case they have specific sanitation needs.
“They’re very well-protected,” Allen said.
The Daily Inter Lake has been publishing a daily list of local restaurants and bars that offer either take-out or delivery services.
Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.