From left: Co-owners Waine Longwell, Lauren Heanes-Longwell, and Sarah and Bill Niles opened Range Life a little over two years ago. "It's definitely not business as usual and we miss being able to host our guests inside the restaurant, but we are grateful to be able to provide people with hot meals and a small slice of normalcy during this chaotic and unsure time," said Heanes-Longwell.
Under the order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 19, seeking to control the spread of the coronavirus, workers in nonessential businesses across the state have been ordered to stay home. Since then, we have all felt the eerie calm descend on our streets. But businesses and agencies deemed critical remain open, including those that provide food, medicine, transportation and other basic services. For workers in these fields, the simple act of coming to work has become a heroic act that carries the danger of exposure to the virus. These people put themselves at risk to keep our society running.
The restaurant industry has taken a considerable hit during the pandemic, but many local business owners are fighting to keep their eateries afloat while also feeding a quarantined public. Pivoting quickly to adapt to the new normal restaurants like Range Life in Livermore have adopted takeout and delivery options in an effort to continue serving the community. We checked in with co-owner Lauren Heanes-Longwell to see how life has changed during shelter in place. (Note: Pictures were taken before COVID-19 and all restaurant workers are strictly following CDC guidelines.)