BIXBY, Okla. — With no end in sight for lifting dining out restrictions during the pandemic, many restaurants have no choice but to continue offering takeout, curbside pick-up or delivery to stay afloat.
The owner of Dos Bandidos, a California-style Mexican restaurant, never imagined going from having more than 40 employees to only four.
"I had to lay off about 38 employees," says Carlos Lopez, "We've lost probably 50 to 60% of our sales."
Following COVID-19 restrictions, he shut down his downtown Tulsa location that he opened less than two years ago and kept his Bixby location open.
"We tried to keep it open for a little bit, but the sales were not doing what they were supposed to be doing," explains Lopez.
He opened Dos Bandidos in Bixby in 2016. Lopez says he is rotating about four employees to give them some hours during the crisis.
The restaurant currently offers curbside pick-up, delivery options and a $5 daily menu that includes tacos, nacho, a burrito or a bowl with a side of rice and beans.
To minimize in-person contact, customers aren't allowed to walk inside the restaurant. They order by phone and pick up the food outside. The order is placed inside an insulated pan carrier to keep it warm.
Lopez says he and his staff sanitize their shoes before they walk inside the restaurant and are constantly disinfecting surfaces, as well as any cash paid by customers. Employees wear masks and gloves when handling the food.
He hopes things will go back to normal soon, but until then, he says he'll continue implementing safety measures to protect his employees and customers.
"We're just going to try to push it as long as we can," says Lopez.
You can find Dos Bandidos on Facebook for their full menu. It is located on 13330 S. Memorial Dr., Bixby.
It is open seven days a week: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The downtown Tulsa location on 109 N. Detroit Ave. is set to reopen for curbside pick-up starting this Tuesday. The hours of operation will be Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Dos Bandidos is one of several local small businesses we continue to highlight in our "We're Open Green Country" series.
Visit our website, for a full list of businesses. You may also fill out a submission form for a small business that is still operating and offering essential services.
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