• Woodstock's most trusted news source since '87
  • Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Trust the Torch!

Subscribe
Main Menu

New signs for these times, Part 2: ‘Help wanted’ signs indicate ‘long COVID’ for restaurants

Text to friend
Hannah Burns, a barista at Ethereal Confections, makes a drink for a customer. To attract workers, the café increased its minimum wage by $2 an hour, offered benefits, and trimmed business hours. At the lowest point of the pandemic, business was down 60 percent, said Sara Miller, one of the co-owners. (Independent photo by Ken Farver)

Restaurants were “the first casualties of the pandemic” said Krista Coltrin, Woodstock’s Economic Development coordinator. Beginning March 21, 2020, Illinois restaurants were closed to indoor dining by state order. When […]

Subscribe or Login to continue reading this quality article by The Woodstock Independent

Start a free trial, then pay only $6 per month after

Free Trial
Login
Picture of Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008, returning to the paper as a writer in 2018. A 26-year resident of Woodstock, she taught English, American history, and religion to junior high students at St. Mary School for nine years.
All Posts
Picture of Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008, returning to the paper as a writer in 2018. A 26-year resident of Woodstock, she taught English, American history, and religion to junior high students at St. Mary School for nine years.
All Posts

Share

Keep Exploring

The Opera House’s Biggest Fans

“I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends [&…
August 23, 2025

Trust the Torch!

Information

Submissions

Community

Contact

Subscriber Access

Login

Need an account? 

What can we help you find?

Search

Popular Topics