Helping Restaurants Survive COVID-19 Lockdowns

Overview

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, restaurants across the country were forced to shut down in-person dining. With no warning and limited resources, many newly launched restaurants in my city faced immediate closure.

In the early months of lockdown, I volunteered my time and expertise to help a small group of local restaurant owners — most of whom had just opened — quickly establish their online ordering presence and survive the disruption.

The Challenge

These restaurants were days or weeks into operation. They had no websites, no delivery platform listings, and no digital strategy. Within a week, indoor dining was banned, foot traffic vanished, and they were at serious risk of shutting down permanently.

They needed digital presence and ordering infrastructure fast — and most couldn't afford to hire a consultant. I stepped in to help them adapt in real time.

Our Approach

Over a 2-week sprint, I worked closely with each owner to:

• ✓ Register their businesses on platforms like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash
• ✓ Create and optimize their profiles (menus, hours, photos, delivery zones)
• ✓ Set up Google Business listings and Yelp pages to improve search visibility
• ✓ Provide brand and menu suggestions to increase digital appeal

The Results

All of the restaurants I supported in 2020 are still in business today. At a time when over 110,000 restaurants closed permanently in the U.S., these restaurants beat the odds through digital resilience and local support.

This was the beginning of Ruiz Professionals — founded on the belief that great people and clear action can create meaningful outcomes, even in crisis.