Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement Sunday that sit-down restaurants and bars in Ohio are closing down — with the exception of carry-out and delivery orders — has set numerous eateries scrambling to adjust.

For some local places already focused on carryout business, life is going on much as before.

“It’s business as usual here at the Shack,” co-owner Ashley Sponaugle said Monday about Thatsa Wrapp Shack, the purveyor of wraps and salads at 7944 Cleveland Ave. NW in Plain Township.

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Already a carryout-only operation located in a former ice-cream stand, the Shack is maintaining its regular hours of Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“We have online ordering, a drive-thru, a walk-up window with minimal contact,” Sponaugle said. The restaurant doesn’t offer delivery or use delivery services.

Friday evening was busier than usual, Saturday slower than usual “but not too bad,” Sponaugle said. “We survive by our regulars. There seems to be a lot of enthusiasm for to-go food. We’ll see.”

Thatsa Wrapp’s downtown Canton location at 600 Sixth St. NW is open for carryout only.

Swensons

A drive-in restaurant chain with curb service and an 86-year history, Swensons has not had to scale down its operations due to DeWine’s shutdown of sit-down dining.

“Given our business model, Swensons is able to operate as usual (but of course, under heightened sanitization guidelines) and we’ll remain open without closures or layoffs,” Kevin Howley, Swensons’ senior director of marketing said in a Monday email. “If additional protocols or changes in operations become necessary, we’ll implement them immediately.”

Local Swensons locations are at 1558 N.Main St. in North Canton and 5815 Wales Ave. NW in Jackson Township.

Pav’s Creamery

The ice cream shop — with locations in North Canton, Green and Portage Lakes — launched a new delivery “care package” to bring ice cream to customers’ homes.

Customers can order packages containing four pack of pints, four homemade drum sticks or four ice cream sandwiches for $15. Or a variety pack of pints, sandwiches and drum sticks for $20.

Packages can be ordered by calling your local Pav’s — 330-472-3348 — in North Canton. Packages will be delivered for free between 3 and 9 p.m.

Deliveries will be sealed packages with dry ice, so boxes can be left at homes and no human contact is required, according to a Facebook post from Pav’s

Vincent’s Pastaria

Vincent Cessna, owner and chef of the Italian restaurant Vincent’s Pastaria at 3103 Tuscarawas St. W, halted his small dine-in option last week by his own decision. His carryout operation has been rolling along.

“I’m just blessed to have such loyal customers. That’s what it comes down to,” Cessna said Monday. “Saturday was one of the top 10 best nights I’ve had here.”

His open kitchen set-up allows customers to see “it’s always gloves, always clean, always sanitized, always those practices,” Cessna said. “I prefer call-ahead and everybody’s getting the hint. They’re all calling ahead, they know it takes 25 or 30 minutes, so people aren’t in here long standing around waiting for their orders.”

Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Papa Bears / Pizza Oven

Owner Steve DiPietro is ready for an increase in carryout and delivery orders, but he’s more concerned about his employees who rely on dine-in customers.

“I’m worried sick about my servers and bartenders,” he said, adding that the employees still have rent and bills to pay.

DiPietro has laid off his front of house staff at Papa Bear’s, 4990 Dressler Road NW in Jackson Township. He offered those employees jobs as delivery drivers, anticipating more demand.

Pizza Oven has locations throughout Stark County.

Restaurant hospitality is one of Ohio’s largest industries, DiPietro said. “You don’t just flip it off and on like a light switch at the governor’s mansion.”

Closing restaurants while keeping big-box stores and movie theaters open doesn’t make sense, he said. “You go up to Sam’s Club and it looks like Christmas. Why is that OK?”

Sukho Thai

Before this week, about 30% of Sukho Thai’s business was carryout orders.

“Because of this situation, lots of people just stay home. I hope they’ll order carryout,” manager Lydia Siu said.

The restaurant, at 4430 Belden Village St. NW in Jackson Township, also delivers via DoorDash.

Siu anticipates that most folks will stay home and cook this week, but next week will want to venture out and order from restaurants again.

Closing to dine-in customers without any warning means restaurants have a lot of inventory prepped and ready to go, she said.

Our employees need to pay bills, she said. “We’re open to help them out.”

Angello’s 2 Go

John Pyrka, owner of Angello’s 2 Go at 5081 Fulton Drive NW in Jackson Township, sounded guardedly optimistic Monday.

“The weekend here was above average,” Pyka said about business. “I think we’re very fortunate to be mainly carryout and delivery, in regard to the situation with the governor closing restaurants and bars. My heart goes out to the full-service places.

“I’m happy to be able to take care of the people that need to eat during this crisis, and for my employees’ sake.”

Normally closed on Mondays, Angello’ 2 Go will now be open daily.

Zepps Pizza

Zepps Pizza, 1108 S. Main St. in North Canton, was fortunate to order carryout supplies early.

Restaurants scrambling Sunday for carryout boxes and containers cleaned out the inventory of the vendor that supplies the pizzeria, manager Andrew Mason said.

Many restaurants aren’t prepared for massive carryout business, he said.

“If we run out of boxes, it doesn’t matter if we have food. We can’t sell it,” he said.

The restaurant is taking additional measures to limit interaction. Customers who order carryout are instructed to stay in their car. An employee will bring out orders.

“We appreciate your cooperation and patience during this time. Let’s work together and keep each other as safe as possible,” read a post on the pizza place’s Facebook page.

Note

It appears that most sit-down restaurants in the area are staying open as carryout businesses. Hazel & Rye Artisan Baking Co., Athens Restaurants and Bocca Grande Italian Steakhouse have announced temporarily closings due to the coronavirus mandate.