Medina restaurant owner holds sign on side of highway

 MEDINA, Ohio (WJW)– The restaurant trade is within the midst of a significant disaster: House owners are struggling to rent employees because the pandemic decreases and the financial demand will increase.

One native restaurant proprietor took drastic measures to recruit assist.

“I believe determined occasions name for determined measures,” mentioned George Santosuosso, proprietor of Santosuossos Pizza Pasta Vino on Medina Street.

Santosuosso determined to carry a “assist wished” signal on the exit ramp of Interstate 71 south and Route 18 in Medina Wednesday.

“It was simply one thing to catch folks’s eye,” Santosuosso mentioned.

Santosuosso mentioned he’s been an owner-operator for greater than 40 years and he’s by no means seen a staffing scarcity like this. Feeling helpless, he took his message to the streets.

“I’ve seen folks on the nook earlier than. I’m lucky that I’m not homeless, however I’m helpless so far as my workers goes,” Santosuosso mentioned.

It’s a present pattern within the restaurant and hospitality trade.

“Some individuals are simply not prepared to come back again. They won’t have the kid care they’d pre-COVID,” mentioned John Barker with the Ohio Restaurant Affiliation.

And based on Barker, different employees have moved into completely different industries.

“We’re going to need to re-promote this trade to the workforce. Possibly we must be extra artistic by way of the hours we provide or the situations,” Barker mentioned.

Barker mentioned 3,000 eating places closed in Ohio due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, greater than 20,000 are nonetheless in operation.

Whereas his restaurant might have survived, Santosuosso mentioned he’s nonetheless struggling.

“It’s not beneath me to come back out and do that. It’s a plea for wanting workers. I actually need some skilled workers, however you recognize what, I’ll take what I can get,” Santosuosso mentioned.