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Restaurant take out business is heating up during the stay at home order

Restaurant delivery is up during the Stay Well at Home order
Food delivery
John Palminteri
Food delivery services have increased tremendously during the COVID-19 crisis. (Photo: John Palminteri)
Food delivery
John Palminteri
Food delivery services have increased tremendously during the COVID-19 crisis. (Photo: John Palminteri)
Food delivery
John Palminteri
Food delivery services have increased tremendously during the COVID-19 crisis. (Photo: John Palminteri)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -  The food delivery business is really cookin' these days. Many people at home are ordering take out meals like never before. Some are trying services for the first time.

"It's shot up quite a bit. We have new restaurant owners signing up every day," said Restaurant Connection Owner Saul Plasencia.

The former driver turned manager and now an owner has used his marketing and business education to grow the client base and customer loyalty.

The Restaurant Connection is one of the first food delivery services of its kind in the United States. The first meals were delivered in 1989.

These days it has competition from Grubhub, Uber Eats, and SB Bites.

Hungry customers trying to follow the Governor's "Stay Well at Home" order to get through the COVID-19 crisis, are calling up for take out like never before.

"From one day to the next, it was a huge influx of orders," said Plasencia.

 In the last month demand for food and drivers has gone from a simmer to a boil.

Many new hires are on the team.  All have to have their own vehicle, insurance and go through training for handling food responsibly.

"We are educating them about how the business works. On top of that,  explaining the best practices for  health and safety," said Plasencia.

Delivery driver Satu Riviera is a fast pace worker wearing his N95 mask, black gloves and carrying an insulated food bag. He has three years experience.   

The Restaurant Connection has helped Riviera keep an income stream after being put on furlough from his part time City of Santa Barbara job.
He moves as soon as his phone has a food pickup message, the name of the restaurant and a final destination.

"When I look at the order, I start driving right away to the restaurant just to make sure the restaurant has the order in case they are overwhelmed, " said Rivera.

Because of the increase in curbside service the city has added temporary signs along streets by many restaurants to allow them to park in the red,  just for the moment, to get the food.

When the food is done,  there's a quick review.  "I check on it item by item,"  said Rivera.

Then he is out the door and usually in motion without any problem.  "It's pretty fast because there's hardly any traffic," he said walking to his car to load the order.  In some cases with side by side restaurants such as the 500 block of State St.  there could be more than one delivery driver ready to pick up an order.

Customers who plan ahead give the restaurants and driver enough time to make the order and have it delivered hot.

At one drop off spot, customer John Montanaro, said he orders often and gets his family meal on  time  He tells them, "what time we need it and they have always shown up on time. It's really nice to have that option available and be able to support the restaurants without having to go out there."

The moment the order is delivered,  the phone App may have another customer already listed.

"That's how it is going,  one after another after another," said Rivera.

The Restaurant Connection says it takes the business to a different level by establishing a partnership.   "We don't only represent ourselves we represent the restaurant too.  We want to do that right.   We definitely take a hands on approach with every order," said Plasencia.

He respects the restaurant owners who are staying open  on a lean budget during the virus crisis. "They are doing everything they can to stay open and also to help their employees maintain a job and source of income."

Orders can be made at   The Restaurant Connection   or by calling  (805) 687-9753 .

Article Topic Follows: Money and Business

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John Palminteri

John Palminteri is senior reporter for KEYT News Channel 3-12. To learn more about John, click here.

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