Step inside Two Steps Downtown Grille!
Three questions with Tom Devine, owner of Two Steps Downtown Grille and Ciao! Catering and Events.
What do you want the community to know? Are there ways for the community to help you and other local businesses to prosper?
Restaurants have been impacted deeply during this trying time. Restaurants typically operate on a 5 to 10% bottom line and when your sales are down due to the pandemic, it's pretty simple to do the math and discover that most restaurants are losing money. The best way for the community to support businesses such as ours is either through dining out or ordering food to-go or delivered to your home. For those who are uncomfortable dining out, pick-up orders or ordering through a delivery service such as delivery.com or doordash are the best bet.
For those who are willing to dine out, consider a weekday or night when restaurants tend to have far less traffic than the weekend. Small independent businesses don't have the financial resources of large chains, so we really need and value your support.
Are you offering any new products or ways for customers to purchase your products or services that are popular during this crisis?
To try and spark interest we have begun running special promotions each month to help bolster business. It started when we were disappointed that we were ordered to close back in March right before for St. Patrick's Day. Normally we run Irish food and drink for an entire week during this time. So the thought occurred to us, why not run St. Patrick's Day six months later in September. Our customers loved the idea and the corn beef and cabbage were flowing!
Now in October, we are in the last week of our Oktoberfest Celebration, with lots of German fare! One customer said after his meal that we must be German, which we are not, we just love to cook. In November we are planning a "Return to Ciao! Cafe", which lots of Italian food. This concept is based on the landmark restaurant that we ran in Danbury for 20 years "Ciao! Cafe and Wine Bar". We will be featuring many dishes from that menu featuring fresh pasta and sauces.
Please share the ways your business is adapting to keep your customers and employees safe in addition to the standard guidelines
We want all of our guests to know that their safety is our highest priority. We are following all CDC guidelines with 6 ft. spacing between tables, guests and staff wearing masks and constant cleaning and sanitizing of our restaurant. We are a small restaurant and feel all of our employees are part of our family. We decided to only open Wednesday through Saturdays to keep the staff small and help control our expenses. Every time you come in you will see the same familiar faces. We're here and waiting for your visit!
Thank you to the HamletHub for putting together Small Businesses Matter and thank you to all of you for your support!
Two Steps Downtown Grille and Ciao! Catering is located at 5 Ives Street in Danbury. Visit them online
HERE. 
