Cleveland Restaurants Launch #WeCantClose Amid Growing Shutdown Fears

Cleveland restaurant owners are concerned a new shutdown order could come for the dining industry and are asking Gov. Mike DeWine to hold off on such a move, even as the governor on Tuesday issued a curfew which will require businesses to close or halt service from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Thursday.

The #WeCantClose initiative includes nearly 30 Cleveland-area restaurants that have agreed to follow health and safety guidelines to protect customers and staff during the pandemic. Participating restaurants are asking that those in compliance with state mandates and without citations for violating health orders should be allowed to remain open.

A majority of restaurant owners are following state guidelines and safety measures, said Brandon Chrostowski, founder and CEO of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Shaker Square. The entire industry shouldn’t be punished for the individual facilities that aren’t following the rules, he said.

“Consumers need to know there is a self-policing going on within our industry,” Chrostowski said. “There are enough of us who are standing up and do it the right way.”

Ten local restaurants were cited by the City of Cleveland this weekend for violating current mandates and regulations. Restaurants that don’t follow regulations won’t be able to participate in the #WeCantClose effort, Chrostowski said.

“We’re holding our pledgers accountable,” he said. “If you have a citation, you’re not on our island.”

The #WeCantClose initiative helps local restaurants communicate with one another on how best to handle the unique challenges and financial strain posed by the pandemic, Chrostowski said. The service industry has already been hit hard by initial shutdowns and restrictions, he said.

“We’re still staying alive, but another closure, obviously, would rattle all that,” Chrostowski said.

Early closure mandates also have an unfair impact on bars and late-night eateries, he said.

“Everyone’s behind this effort, pledging to do things safely, to do things properly so we can still remain open and conduct our business,” he said.