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    From the editor: The restaurant industry is vital to the Wilmington community

    By Sherry Jones, Wilmington StarNews,

    1 day ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Rm5zr_0vAXkkMX00

    The Wilmington area is home to more than 1,000 restaurants, many of which are locally owned. That means hundreds of business owners and thousands of employees rely on this industry for their livelihoods.

    It’s never been an easy business, as several owners note in today’s cover story from reporter Allison Ballard. But it got even harder when the COVID pandemic hit in 2020.

    Many restaurants struggled and, in some cases, employees moved on to other jobs to make ends meet. For those that survived, they found that the landscape had changed in many cases.

    More: The Wilmington restaurant industry needs the right workers to survive. What's being done?

    Hiring workers seems to have gotten harder than ever, which has resulted in some restaurants having to change their hours or close unexpectedly for a shift or even a day.

    Yes, an unexpected closure or longer-than-usual wait time can be inconvenient, but these businesses and workers are providing an invaluable service.

    Some owners have increased wages and training programs are being offered more widely to help prepare people for careers in the hospitality industry.

    Given that this is a vital part of our community’s economy and contributes to a thriving tourism industry, I hope everyone will be patient with restaurant workers and continue to support local businesses.

    More: Downtown Wilmington restaurant balances classic charm with fresh elements

    Speaking of restaurants, Allison also has a nice feature in today’s newspaper about Circa 1922, which has been a staple in downtown Wilmington for 24 years.

    While the menu’s focus has evolved over the years, owner Ash Aziz says he’s now planning a few subtle updates to the space as the restaurant approaches its 25th anniversary in February 2025.

    Let’s all raise a glass and toast to this longstanding favorite. Here’s hoping they’re around for 25 more years.

    Sherry Jones is the StarNews executive editor. You can reach her at sjones1@gannett.com.

    This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: From the editor: The restaurant industry is vital to the Wilmington community

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