Local restaurateur, Bill White announced he is closing his seven restaurants beginning Monday, March 16. He told KPCW, he is too large an operation to stagger the closing but his concern for the overall welfare of the community is driving the decision.
Bill White, owner of the Bill White Restaurant Group, employs about 500 people in his operation which includes seven restaurants in Park City and Summit County. Employees were notified Saturday of the decision to close for an undetermined time. White had hoped for a coordinated effort with other restaurants in town.
“Calling the county. I just was on the phone to Sheriff Justin Martinez. I was calling the health department yesterday and nobody really seemed too overly concerned about the fact that we were going to start our closure schedule for this pandemic. We’re a very visible company, obviously a lot of people use us as a pivot point to make their decisions. And I thought a coordinated wind down effort would be smart and prudent, but I couldn't get the powers that be on board. So, I've made the decision in a vacuum to take the prudent and responsible meaning to act on their own and close as quickly as possible."
He says it’s difficult to make the decision to shut down his operation. He was reluctant to make the call but felt he had to take the lead and he expects others will follow within the next day or so.
“And I didn’t want to incite a panic or anything, but it was only prudent again that we make the right decision not just for employees or for the enterprise or for the customers, or the guests, or the community. But we have to do what's best for everybody and soon the scale tips from being cautiously you know kind of, take it a day at a time to, wow this is something that we have to be the one that acts because the government is moving somewhat slowly. But in their defense every day is a different day.”
White says he’ll offer everyone that wants to work, the chance to work in his farming and ranching operations in the county. He says his employees have helped him build his business and he want to take care of them through this hard time.
“Make sure everybody is fed and has the supplies that they need. So, we're not just jumping off the cliff without a plan and hopefully we can all stand together and come through this as a group including not just Bill White Enterprises but the entire community, Park City and Summit County.”
White plans to meet or communicate with his employees biweekly through the upcoming weeks and months and will stay closed until the community health risks of COVID-19 are diminished.
His restaurants include:
Billy Blanco's, Chimayo, Ghidotti's, Grappa, Wahso, Windy Ridge Cafe & Windy Ridge Bakery and Sushi Blue.
