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John “LJ” Burr and his partners at Long Doggers are entrepreneurs. They're used to thinking on their feet and planning on the fly.

When indoor dining was limited and then closed because of quickly changing COVID-19 mandates, the six Long Doggers restaurants across the county began offering groceries through their drive-through windows.

Now, as Florida begins a 30-day stay-at-home order, Burr wants to take care of his employees. Money coming in from the government's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act will go to set a $20 minimum wage for everyone who works at the restaurants.

"The $20 minimum wage is a way to tell the staff that they're important, and the job that they're doing is important," Burr said, "We're going to call it a COVID hazard pay."

Burr said he's not sure when the stimulus money will arrive, but the pay raise will go into effect Monday.

With more than 20 years in the restaurant business, Burr said he and his colleagues have tackled multiple challenges.

Since the first Long Doggers opened in 1997 in Indialantic, they've weathered hurricanes, 9/11 and the housing crisis.

During that time, they've opened Long Doggers restaurants in Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach, Palm Bay and Viera. Meg O'Malley's Restaurant & Irish Pub in downtown Melbourne and Hemingway's Tavern in Melbourne also fall under the Long Doggers Eateries umbrella.

"Our ability to adapt as entrepreneurs is a strength," he said. "Every day, it feels like we're making a month's worth of critical decisions in two or three hours."

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As the new coronavirus swept across the country, they snapped into action. Because fresh meat and produce were readily available through their supplier, Cheney Bros., they began offering grocery packages.

As traditional stores have restocked their shelves, customers have had less need for the service, but it remains a significant portion of daily sales.

In the past week, the decision was made to close Hemingway's and Meg O'Malley's until the coronavirus situation stabilizes. Those restaurants are based on a sit-down experience, and the food on their menus doesn't translate well for takeout, Burr said.

Long Doggers restaurants have drive-through windows and a menu heavy on dishes designed to travel.

The company employed about 450, and closing Meg's and Hemingway's meant laying off about 150 people, which was a tough call to make. But none of the Long Doggers workers faced layoffs.

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"We're letting everybody work what they want to work," Burr said. "Some don't want to work, because they don't want to be exposed."

That means the remaining employees are able to work as much as they want.

The $20 minimum wage means a significant pay raise for servers and bartenders, who generally make about $5.50 to $8.50 an hour before tips.

Burr sees this as an investment in — and planning for — the future.

"I think the living wage will arise on the other side," he said of what will happen as COVID-19 restrictions start lifting, referring to the ongoing debate over whether servers should receive standard minimum wage rather than being expected to supplement their salaries with tips.

"There's going to be a certain amount of pay we're going to have to give everybody," he said.

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For now, his main concerns are keeping his employees well — everyone is screened before each shift to make sure they're healthy and haven't come into contact with someone who is sick — and making sure the community has access to food, be it an Epic Chili Dog or New York strip steaks to cook at home.

He's proud of the way the Long Doggers team has faced the situation. One manager cooked breakfast for his staff. Groceries were donated to a homeless mission in Cocoa. Lunches were sent to Publix employees.

It all comes down to one simple fact.

"People have to eat," Burr said. "Our staffs and our owners have always been dedicated to serving them food."

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