Dorsia Finds Ways to Survive During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Walking into Dorsia on a Friday night, the open sign is on, but the tables and chairs are empty. The Italian restaurant on Brady Street was forced to close except for take-out and delivery service when Gov. Tony Evers announced the Safer-at-Home order, which is now in effect until May 26. Many service industry workers have been laid off because of it.  

The front door to Dorsia has a sign that says, “Only three customers at a time.” As you walk in, instead of a host stand, there is a “social distancing area.” There are two tables in the entrance that divide the customers and the workers. The tables are stocked with hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes. Servers set the customers’ food on the table or they run the food out to customers’ cars for curbside pick-up.  

Front-of-House Manager Joanna Szeszycki said they are constantly wiping down all their check books and tables. 

Before the order, Szeszycki said the atmosphere in the restaurant was “lively and vibrant.” She said that, on a typical weekend night, the restaurant would host around 200 customers.  

“Every day was exciting because of the general energy of the restaurant and the product we provide,” Szeszycki said.  

Geno Cataldo has owned Dorsia for three years and said that this last year, before the lockdown, they were setting sales records almost every month compared to previous years.  

The pandemic has taken a toll on their business. Since the order went into effect, Dorsia has taken in about half the food orders that they would typically take in on any given night, according to Szeszycki. 

Cataldo said the pandemic has made life more difficult, but he and his team are trying to stay positive. 

“We are losing so much every day, but our hope is there will be some light at the end of the tunnel,” Cataldo said.   

Despite the changes, Szeszycki said that they have managed to keep all their employees, as well as hire three new people during this time. She said that this is the best time to train people so that they are up and ready for when life goes back to “normal.”

“Once the order is lifted, we will definitely be prepared,” Szeszycki said.  

Cataldo said that he understood the reasons why Evers closed down businesses when the order was initially announced, but now that Evers has extended it, Cataldo said that it doesn’t seem like there’s an end in sight.  

“The governor’s plan seems very vague,” Cataldo said.  

Small business owners will have to decide how long they can continue working like this until they have to close for good, while big businesses are receiving bailouts, according to Cataldo.  

During this tough time, Dorsia has been supporting workers in their community by offering 50% off to all first responders, healthcare workers, service industry and hospitality workers. About 80% of the orders the restaurant has taken during the lockdown have been from people who work in healthcare, according to Szeszycki.  

“The community and people in general are an enormous asset to what we do,” Szeszycki said. “When times are tough, we are there for one another.” 

General Manager Zachary Correa told TMJ4 that the discount has increased the volume of tickets that are coming in. 

Szeszycki said they have been receiving a great amount of support from surrounding businesses. 

“It is a different kind of busy, but we have embraced it,” Szeszycki said.  

Cataldo said he would like things to return to the way they were, but he’s not sure if that’s a reality. 

“I think the fear is almost as bad as the disease,” Cataldo said.  

Szeszycki said what she misses most are the people and seeing a lot of her co-workers every day. 

“The general energy of a booming restaurant is an amazing feeling; I can’t wait to get back to that,” Szeszycki said.  

Cataldo said that his employees mean everything to him, and that the great group of people is what makes Dorsia so special.  

Szeszycki said that they will survive as long as everyone supports one another and stands together. 

“Dorsia is about family,” Szeszycki said. “I will stand beside this restaurant because we have amazing food and an even better group of people to stand behind it.”