Business View Magazine | June 2020

17 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JUNE 2020 and La Paz in Destin has offered all of his employees paid sick leave, no questions asked, so they don’t have to decide between their jobs and their health. The Morgan family also owns Harbor Docks and Harbor Docks Seafood Market in Destin. Morgan said the seafood market was down 90 percent in March and April and prices are still lower than usual. While restaurant sales are up slightly in May, he is uncertain of what to expect in the long run. “We’ve adjusted our model to focus on reduced dining capacity, increased outdoor dining, take out, and delivery,” Morgan said. “If that’s what it takes, that’s what we’re going to do. But we hope to eventually be able to get back to the way things were before COVID-19.” The Morgan family continued to operate their non-profit American Lunch food truck throughout the shutdowns and restrictions. American Lunch offers hot meals from the kitchens of Morgan- family restaurants and other local restaurant partners to people in need in Destin. During the pandemic, “anyone and everyone is welcome to stop by and pick up a free lunch, no questions asked,” said Morgan. GCSA member David Krebs , owner of Ariel Seafood, a high-volume seafood supplier in Destin that primarily targets red snapper and grouper, said he is still limiting the number of trips his fishing boats are taking. Many dealers along the Florida panhandle let their boats go fishing in anticipation of higher volume of consumption, only to find demand lower than in previous years, according to Krebs. Florida’s plan to initially open restaurants at 25 percent indoor capacity – now 50 percent – has also prevented some smaller establishments from reopening, further decreasing overall seafood demand. Throughout the shutdown, Krebs has seen sales of seafood to retail markets remain consistent, but a hard drop in sales to restaurants. “Traditionally Americans eat higher end seafood OPENING L INES Kristin Allen takes an order from a customer at Dewey Destin’s Bayside location behind a newly installed plexiglass shield.