Coffee shops figure ways to cope with 'shelter in place' mandate

At Brewsters on the Boulevard on Texas Boulevard  they try to keep up community ties even if it means just keeping the drive-thru window open.
At Brewsters on the Boulevard on Texas Boulevard they try to keep up community ties even if it means just keeping the drive-thru window open.

Brewsters on the Boulevard remains open in the wake of Bowie County's shelter in place order, but two other local businesses serving coffee, tea and food ceased even drive-thru and pickup service.

Taste and See and Urban Tea Town have announced they will be closing until the situation changes.

Taste and See's Brock Brewer says they will aim for a mid-April reopening, or when the shelter-in-place order is lifted, whichever comes first.

Urban Tea Town posted this announcement on its Facebook page:

"Dear Urban Tea Towners,

In compliance with the Texarkana, Texas, stay in place order we will be temporarily closing our store. We have removed our online website https://www.urbanteatowntxk.com/ until we can resume services. I feel that it is very important not only to my employees but to the general public that we serve to follow these orders from our civic leaders. I hope with all my heart that we can remain in business. I will keep you updated in Facebook and Instagram. Please stay safe.

~Rebecca"

Meanwhile, Brewsters on the Boulevard is still trying to transmit its unique flavor and foster a sense of community from a distance.

"Right now, we are doing business as usual," said Chuck Taramona, manager at Brewsters on the Boulevard. "Yes, we are operating at reduced hours and through our drive-through only. But business still goes on."

Like most eateries and beverage outlets, they are paying sharp attention to cleanliness and social distancing, but are still doing their best to maintain their sense of community.

"What makes us different is our staff. We are excited to give service to a struggling community. We want to communicate, connect and participate in group occasions via the internet, interacting with our customers," she said. "We want to make sure that during a time of anxiety, we want to maintain optimism, community and closeness, even six feet apart."

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