Business

Angus Barn: Popular holiday tradition continues with safety precautions in place

Do you have a holiday tradition of eating at Angus Barn? They're keeping the tradition going -- with some safety protocol to protect customers and employees.

Posted Updated

By
Keely Arthur
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — With COVID-19 numbers already climbing over the past several weeks, coupled with possible spikes from Thanksgiving travel and crowded shopping areas during the holidays, officials warn our cases could skyrocket in the weeks between now and Christmas.

Business are striving to keep the virus at bay – both from their customers and from their employees.

Many locals consider eating at Angus Barn a huge holiday tradition.

"My wife started decorating like this about 25 years ago," said owner Steve Thanhauser. "We used to just have one tree, and we decorated with homemade gingerbread."

In that time, those humble holiday beginnings at The Angus Barn has evolved into huge crowds.

"We are just so blessed to have people that want to make this a tradition," he said.

From Thanksgiving through Christmas The Angus Barn is booked solid. Even on a Monday night it’s busy, filled with hundreds of customers and more than 150 staff.

And even during the pandemic, he is determined to keep their holiday traditions going – safely.

Throughout the pandemic, the owner said their safety precautions have been able to keep COVID-19 at bay.

He wanted to share what they've been doing to keep staff and customers safe during a bustling holiday season.

Extra steps Angus Barn takes to keep hundreds of staff, customers safe

"People come in with a mask. They get to their table. They begin to eat and drink, and they take their mask off," he said.

But if they need to go to the bathroom or do something else, they put their mask back on before walking out.

Masks have been required since they reopened this spring and staff also gets daily temperature checks.

Employees are asked a list of questions before every shift to ensure they've been keeping away from COVID.

In addition to those questions, Thanhaueser is taking things a step further this holiday season and asking traveling staff to quarantine.

"If they are going some place, hold back a day or two, make sure you aren’t feeling any symptoms, and during that time go get tested," he said.

Angus Barn is happy to pay for any employee who must get tested.

Adhering to current capacity limits, The Angus Barn can serve 420 customers. Thanhauser relies on a staff of 180 to do so, and works hard to keep them safe too.

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