WMG Volume 7 • Issue 10 April 30, 2020
Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE
COMMUNITY
Bona Italian Makes the Best of Bad Times Takeout and delivery aren’t enough for most restaurants to survive By Denise Royal Instead of serving food on plates, Bona Italian Restaurant is a Wilton Manors institution. It’s been a community restaurants are paying more for those favorite for years thanks in part to its ubiquitous plastic to-go boxes or Styrofoam containers. Consider this: pizza and homestyle Italian cuisine. The delicious food and attentive many restaurants make their profits service are enough to keep people from customers ordering wine and soda. flocking to its Wilton Drive location. But Servers earn money from tips. Those money-making elements others are drawn to Bona aren’t part of the take-out Italian because of the equation. many ways the restaurant While businesses generously gives back to were caught up in the the community. coronavirus tailspin, The restaurant supports Weinzimer jumped into a countless number of action to apply for a nonprofits and causes. bridge loan offered by the These days the community Governor Ron DeSantis’ is giving back to Bona administration. Italian. “I never heard back,” he “Our customers are said. He then submitted an amazing,” said owner Glen application for the federal Weinzimer. “People have Paycheck Protection been magnanimous. That’s Program (PPP). He was what keeps us going.” - Glen Weinzimer approved in mid-April. The restaurant’s staff OWNER OF BONA ITALIAN When we spoke at the end has pared down from 18 RESTAURANT of the month, he hadn’t to 8. In the blink of an eye, received the money. they were furloughed or It’s a perilous time for Bona Italian, even had their hours cut. They can apply for unemployment. But right now, hundreds as the restaurant remains open. It’s fallen of thousands of Floridians have applied behind in paying bills, including one food for assistance. Only a small fraction has vendor, who stopped selling to Bona. This is the first week that payroll won’t happen. received a payment. Instead of waiting tables, these days “There’s not enough money,” Weinzimer employees are taking phone orders and said. It’s a scenario playing out across South lots of them. This new business model is cutting into the restaurant industry’s Florida. Business owners are waiting on loans, support, and assistance, with no already razor-thin margins.
“OUR CUSTOMERS ARE AMAZING. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MAGNANIMOUS. THAT’S WHAT KEEPS US GOING.”
Glen Weinzimer, the owner of Bona Italian Restaurant. SFGN file photo.
idea when their companies can open, restaff, or return to work. It’s a waiting game, with no end in sight. “If the money shows up, I’ll pay rent, payroll, and utilities,” Weinzimer said. Amid this stressful time, Weinzimer is in no rush to open his dining room to the public. “I think the state reopening soon would be a horrible mistake,” he said. “I can’t imagine that we’re close to people eating in a restaurant.” And while so much is unknown, some things are for sure. For Bona, it’s the kindness
of others. That includes people buying food for first responders, having a meal delivered to a friend, and supporting a business that supports its community. Even on stressful days, Weinzimer remains optimistic. “I do think there’s a lot of good that will come out of this,” he said. “I think people will figure out their work/life balance. There will be improved relationships. I think this is a good opportunity for people to reassess their goals and work on a long-term life plan. That’s what I hope comes out of this.” WMG
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