Another event has become a casualty of the coronavirus lockdown. The Park City Area Restaurant Association has announced it will not host the annual Savor the Summit on Main Street this summer.
The Restaurant Association’s Executive Director Ginger Wicks said they decided to drop the event, scheduled for late June. She told KPCW there were several factors and unknowns that led them to the decision.
“It is a very expensive event for restaurants to put on. So given that they are all taking a huge financial hit right now, adding that financial burden onto them was one of the reasons. Not knowing when we’re gonna be able to come out the other side of this, and if our large gathering of this size—cause keep in mind, this event does bring in close to 3000 diners. Having such a huge event so closely—assuming we are able to come out of this in June—was that the best decision for public safety? Would that fall into any guidelines that may be placed on us as we ease back into, hopefully, a normal life. And then the restaurant staffing. Obviously, they’ve all had to let go significant staff members. Would they have the staff to host it. Everyone’s been laid off. Would people be able to afford it?”
The restaurants usually pay a participation fee for Savor the Summit, to finance police coverage and other logistical costs. Wicks said the fees will be refunded.
She said they might move the dinner to this fall.
But otherwise it will take place on June 26th in the summer of 2021. Wicks said they don’t anticipate many changes to what is usually a great kick-off event for their summer season.
The Association is made up of about 70 restaurants. Under the lockdown, about 35 are operating with curbside service or delivery. A few, she said, even offered deals on the Easter weekend.
Wicks said some restaurants tried going to the curbside format, but realized there wasn’t enough demand and closed.
She said they’re all waiting for a notice from the County Health Department to open up. But she said it’s likely the restaurants will have to ease into normal operations.
“It’s not going to be where, okay, June 1st or whatever the date is, everybody’s just going to be open seven days a week. They’re all going to have to re-hire employees and ease back into it. So I think we’ll see some of them doing maybe weekends only to start, some of em trying to, maybe just offering lunch and dinner. I think it’ll be a slow transition back into regular business.”
Ginger Wicks from the Park City Area Restaurant Association, who urged residents to support local eating spots and all other businesses. You can go to “parkcityrestaurants.com” to see who’s open.
