Just as the stay-at-home orders were lifted, business-owner David Fernandez reopened his Iberian-inspired tapas restaurant, Frog & The Bull, on Friday. The night before, Fernandez said he and the staff rebranded the dining establishment into "a badass food truck without wheels."

On the day they reopened, a regular asked his server to charge him and his family double. On top of that, he added a tip for the server, and another $1,000 "for the house."


Tip Helps Restaurant Recover Lost Revenue During Stay-at-Home Period

Last Friday, a man dining with his family ordered a filet mignon, scallops, grilled steak, and among others on the menu. The staff recognized him as a regular customer before the business closed this year in adherence to coronavirus mitigation measures.

Their check amounted to a total of $337, but the man insisted the restaurant charge him double the price.

Fernandez remembered the man told him to charge him double for everything. "I asked, 'Are you sure?' And he said yes."

On top of adding a tip to the server, the customer's total check came out to be $2,029.

During the lockdown, the staff attempted to gain some profit with carryout and delivery menus, especially since they lost much of what they earned in the restaurant's first five months in business.

On the day leading up to the reopening, he said he and the staff were preparing to deal with the advisories, which were strict guidance measures that business owners were expected to follow in the reopening of their stores. Fernandez said they had a "strict" seating scheme "to keep people safe."

Fernandez also said that the money would help the restaurant a great deal in paying off the bills, especially with the current crisis, as Texas is one of the first states to open to boost the U.S. economy. He considered it a generous welcome-back gift for the Frog & Bull.


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Businesses Reopen in Texas

New rules by Governor Greg Abbott's taskforce have outlined the plan for businesses in Texas that have reopened as early as Friday. The mitigation measures for the coronavirus pandemic have been instituted on April 2 and have expired on April 30.

Abbott said Texas's expansion on testing and medical supplies like personal protective equipment would allow the state to function regular operations, but with limited capacity.

If the state confirms no "flare-up" of the coronavirus disease, then the governor said that more businesses would reopen with much looser restrictions that may be in effect as early as May 18.

Like the Frog & Bill, businesses are expected to keep the capacity of the stores limited to 25 percent for urban areas. For the rural counties with not as many reported cases of COVID-19, businesses can serve up to 50 percent regular capacity, which is enough for them to gain profit.

Owner of Foreign & Domestic restaurant Sarah Heard did not think this was a wise decision for businesses. As a 40-seat restaurant, having ten guests was not worth reopening up for. They also considered how the staff would be brought back.

"They're going to make not enough money at 25 percent capacity to pay their bills," Heard said in an interview with Spectrum News.

Apart from that, her restaurant was also concerned about safety. She said they'd be more comfortable reopening once the virus was better contained.