— Amid the coronavirus outbreak, Asheville-based Tupelo Honey Cafe has temporarily laid off 85 percent of its workforce.

In an email to customers, the restaurant said the lay offs affected all 15 locations and its headquarters. No word on how many employees were affected at the Raleigh location in Cameron Village. Tupelo Honey opened its only Triangle location in November 2014.

"Every…single…one…hurt. We are not an independent restaurant, but we are a lean start-up who works on the same margins and has the same love for those who work for us. This fight has been epic, but the comeback will be even better," owners wrote in the email.

This week the restaurant pivoted to curbside to-go and third-party delivery as Gov. Roy Cooper mandated all dining rooms and bars to close their doors to help reduce the spread of the pandemic.

The restaurant is offering to-go curbside pick-up, delivery and gift cards.

"Our hearts our broken, our bodies are exhausted and we have spent days planning every possible scenario to keep this business alive so that we can reopen when this pandemic is over," owners wrote. "We are fighting by still holding daily in-store family meals for those who have been let go and those that are still with us."

In addition to family meals, the restaurant is starting a charitable fund, funded by biscuit sales and donations, for struggling employees.

The business is also urging others to sign a National Restaurant Association petition asking legislators to support a plan for recovery.

"We are fighting for every dishwasher, waitress and waiter, chef, bartender, host and every member of our Hive team we have lost so that we may once again be whole and have the pleasure to serve you again another day.

Tupelo Honey opened its first location in 2000 in downtown Asheville.