Restaurants still reeling

SANDUSKY — A sub shop known for its "freaky fast" approach to serving customers is experiencing — like many other places — a sluggish process with job applications. While many restaurants face staffing challenges stemming from COVID-19-related fallout, one franchise, in particular, can't even operate a normally busy storefront. Jimmy John's on Hayes Avenue (Ohio 4) in Sandusky near Firelands Regional Medical Center closed back in April with no reopening date in sight, according to Kula Hoty Lynch, Hoty Enterprise's corporate counsel. Hoty serves as Jimmy John's landlord. "Per our tenant, they have no employees to staff the unit," said Lynch, noting the other Sandusky-area location, on Milan Road (U.S. 250), remains open. A note on Jimmy John's door attributed the closure to equipment issues. Management previously told Hoty Enterprises how the now-shuttered location "did very well during COVID due to the drive-thru, which the Perkins store does not have," Lynch said. "I believe they just can't staff both units, so they switched all resources to just one." So when could the city storefront reopen? "They hope, and we hope, they will be back open once they can properly staff," said Lynch, unsure of an exact timeline. Another company with multiple sandwich eateries also downsized earlier this year, as Subway shuttered its Milan Road (U.S. 250) location by Starbucks. "That really was more a result of COVID," said Lynch, whose company also owns the plaza where Subway operated from. "That particular franchisee had been trying to sell for a while, as he was looking to retire. Once COVID hit and he had no buyers, he closed." Many other restaurants remaining open are reeling from these challenges. "Jolly Donut is in desperate need of workers," said Chris Fresch, the Perkins Township-based restaurant's owner. "We have had to close on some days because of no staff. The pandemic has taken a toll on this business. Don't let it be one to close for good." And, across downtown Sandusky over Independence Day weekend, many bars and restaurants either closed early and/or didn't operate a kitchen due to demand far outweighing supply, be it with workers or products. Daly's Pub, for instance, needed to close its kitchen on Monday and Tuesday to recuperate from a swamped weekend.