Two Lizard’s Thicket restaurants close temporarily
The owners of the Lizard’s Thicket chain announced plans to close two of their Columbia-area restaurants as they deal with the strain caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Doors will be temporarily shuttered at the restaurants at 2240 Airport Boulevard and 402 Beltline Boulevard, according to a news release issued by the Williams family, which owns the 14 Lizard’s Thickets across the Midlands.
The two restaurants will close for the summer, beginning on Sunday, according to the release.
The restaurants are being shut down to provide staffing support for the other 12 Lizard’s Thickets in the area, according to the release. There is a lack of applicants needed to fill full- and part-time positions, so the employees from these restaurants will be shifted to new locations, the family said.
The company stressed that it is temporarily closing the two restaurants because of staffing shortages and not because of an outbreak of COVID-19, and a spokesperson confirmed no employees at the locations have tested positive for the coronavirus.
“Temporarily closing two locations will allow us to have enough staff to provide our other locations with the excellent service our customers expect,” Lizard’s Thicket Chairman Bobby Williams said in the release. “Our commitment to our customers always comes first, and this difficult decision has been made with all of our stakeholders in mind.”
Plans to reopen the locations are supposed to be announced in August, the family said.
“We are so grateful for our loyal customers who have stuck with us throughout this pandemic, and are excited to see our patrons in the dining rooms again,” Williams said. “The COVID-19 virus has caused strain on all aspects of our operations — from food supply to staffing — but we are committed to operating our business as safely and efficiently as possible.”
The other Lizard’s Thickets are open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and a list of those restaurant locations is available online.
Several restaurants across the Midlands temporarily closed during the pandemic, when South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order banning in-house dining. Some of the closures have become permanent even though customers are permitted to eat inside restaurants again, while following social distancing mandates.
McMaster promoted the reopening of dining rooms in May by visiting a Lizard’s Thicket, sharing a photo of him wearing a mask while placing an order.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 11:24 AM.
