Small businesses suffer on first day of Monterey County’s shelter-in-place order

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) Restaurants on the peninsula are struggling under Monterey County's shelter-in-place order. Some owners, including John Sandoval of MidiCi pizza, have reported firing employees to their businesses afloat.

“Today, we sold three pizzas,” restaurant owner John Sandoval said.

That's about three percent of the sales that Sandoval usually makes a day at his family's restaurant, MidiCi. This is the new normal under Monterey County's shelter-in-place order. It only allows restaurants to offer take-out and delivery.

“We’re going to be bankrupted, but I do want people to be safe regardless,” Sandoval said.

So, without sales from guests dining in, Sandoval said he has to lay off his employees.

"All of them," Sandoval said. "100 percent of them."

Fearing the shelter-in-place order can last longer than three weeks, he's not really sure whether he'll have the financial means to stay open--let alone re-hire anyone.

“That would be our hope," Sandoval said. "To bring our people back. But I’m not counting on it.”

The restaurant is located on Alvarado Street, which is normally a hub for tourists and nightlife on the peninsula. But things looked noticeably different.

"It's crazy to see how empty it is," Carmel resident Ashley Davidson said.

The few people walking around are nearby residents stepping out for fresh air.

"People out exercising and walking," Monterey resident Andrea Pace said. "Keeping their distance from each other."

Many of those residents said they're worried about places like Medici.

“It would be sad to see some good family businesses go,” Davidson said.

Many like this family-owned restaurant are asking for a life-line during the outbreak. They're hoping that the delivery and carry-out orders keep coming in.