How the Ohio Restaurant Association stayed afloat during COVID-19
For many people in central Ohio, the realization that life was about to change because of an emerging coronavirus pandemic set in at the beginning of March 2020. That’s when the Arnold Sports Festival—one of the state’s most prestigious events—canceled its convention and barred spectators from attending competitions. At the time, Gov. Mike DeWine said new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on large public gatherings prompted the decision. That dramatic announcement prepared John Barker for a phone call that would come less than two weeks later. On Sund...