Marty Kazsuk wears a lot of hats.
He is the fire chief for the Eli Fire Department, works for the Nicholasville Fire Department, and also runs the Eli Country Store.
He’s seen the COVID-19 pandemic from a variety of angles, which includes adjusting on the fly as his restaurant at Eli Country Store had to shut down in-person dining for a few weeks.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the restaurant has had to adjust to a shifting landscape. In-person dining was closed down in the spring near the onset of the pandemic in Kentucky.
“It was a worry for us then, but we were able to adjust, switch to takeout only, and at that point in time, we were coming out of a slow period,” Kazsuk said.
The Eli Country Store is a local favorite in the Eli community, and even across the county, but a large chunk of business comes from tourists. Located conveniently off Highway 76, the store sits right along the path many lake visitors travel when visiting Russell County.
“Our business peaks in the summer months because of the tourism,” Kazsuk said.
But now entering into that slower season, the colder months where lake traffic declines, Kazsuk said this time it is a little more difficult.
Because of that, Kazsuk said he’s thankful for the regular local customers who help support the business by ordering takeout.
Thankfully, Kazsuk said, Eli Country Store is more than a stand-alone restaurant. The restaurant is a significant portion of the business, but the store also provides fuel, groceries, and other essential items.
“We’re glad we’re not a stand-alone restaurant, but it does still hurt,” Kazsuk said.
Kazsuk said some adjustments have to be made, but added that the restaurant keeps the full menu open for takeout and call-in orders so that customers can still order their favorite menu items even if they can’t dine in the restaurant.
“We’re still open and we still have our full menu,” Kazsuk said. “We wanted to make sure we still offered the same items.”
Restrictions from COVID-19 also forced some staffing changes, Kazsuk said. Normally, staff is added in the summer months to help with increased demand and traffic, but this year, Kazsuk said he didn’t hire the seasonal staff he usually does.
The hope is that he doesn’t have to make any other staffing changes, but there might be adjustments in hours.
“As of now, I don’t foresee any changes in our staff,” Kazsuk said. “We may have to adjust some hours because it’s a little slower throughout the week in this area.”
The Eli Country Store is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Kazsuk said one way Russell County residents can support local restaurants during this time is purchasing gift cards.
“It gives a little cash flow to help right now,” Kazsuk said. “That would help everyone. I’m not just looking at myself, I’m looking at all the businesses in the county. That’s one way to help.”
The local business during this time of year is crucial, he said.
“We sustain ourselves through November, December, January, and February off local business,” Kazsuk said. “We really appreciate our locals. They’re a very loyal group of people. They come here every day… They honestly become like an extended part of your family.”
And Kazsuk added because those loyal customers become so close to Kazsuk and the staff at Eli Country Store, they want to do all they can to make sure those customers stay healthy.
“We want them to be safe and healthy,” Kazsuk said. “We have to do our best to prevent the spread of this virus.”
Kazsuk said he is hopeful that there will be enough of a change in the community spread of the virus that restaurants are able to resume in-person dining when Governor Beshear’s executive order expires on Dec. 13.
“Hopefully we’ll see a change,” Kazsuk said. “We hope that we’ll be able to open up for indoor dining on Dec. 14. We want to reopen. We’ve made the changes needed where we spread out tables with six feet distance between them. We’ve adjusted to where there is no contact with employees and customers. We have tried to take all the necessary precautions.”
That also includes employees wearing masks, increasing hand-washing and sanitizing of tables and other surfaces.
“We’re asking our customers that come in to wear masks,” Kazsuk said. “I’m a realist though, and I know that it’s hard. We are asking people to wear them when they come in and most people have honored that. We just want people to respect that request.”
Kazsuk said he knows there are a lot of opinions out there about wearing masks but said right now, he believes it is the right thing to do.
“It’s a free country, I get that, but I always look at stuff at the end of the day, it’s just the right thing to do,” Kazsuk said. “Right now, it’s the right thing to do to just try. It’s not just for your protection, but for other people’s protection. Let’s just do what we can to prevent this virus. We gotta try.”
You can contact the Eli Country Store at 270-866-6666.
