Tsunami’s Response to Phase 1 Opening Might Just be Perfect

I must admit I have a bit of trepidation in my mind over today's Phase 1 reopening of Louisiana's economy. Granted the coronavirus threat remains and will likely remain a part of our culture moving forward it's how we come out from under it that will determine if we really did the right thing.

As we enter Phase 1 of the reopening many businesses that have been closed or required to reduce services will now be able to partially reopen as of today. Restaurants have been one of those businesses that will now face the dually difficult task of managing safety aspects of public operation while providing quality service to their customers.

One Acadiana restaurant, Tsunami Sushi in Downtown Lafayette sent out an e-mail to their customers yesterday. Quite frankly, I believe the clarity, confidence, and transparency of Tsunami's plans to serve you and take care of your safety could be considered a model for what a business would need to do to earn my business.

Here's what the Tsunami message said:

We are wrapping up all of our final chores to re-open for you. 

No, it won't look the same, but it will taste the same.  We will be following all of the CDC recommendations for safety and sanitation and will ask that guests do the same.  We will encourage you to wear masks when entering our spaces and when moving about any common spaces.  The jury literally is still out on whether any of these measures will help or not, but we can get behind the fact that it can't hurt. 

We have new single-use menus for the opening weekend, or you will be able to scan a QR code to access our menu online if you want the touchless option.

Let's get back to what we all do best. Us providing quality food and service and you taking in our quality food and service.  So much of our success moving forward depends on trust in our relationship.  We promise to hold up our end of the deal to provide safe dining in a healthy environment. 

See you downtown.

I especially love the Tsunami position on face masks.  

We will encourage you to wear masks when entering our spaces and when moving about any common spaces.  The jury literally is still out on whether any of these measures will help or not, but we can get behind the fact that it can't hurt. 

This is how reasonable people should respond to the situation that we are currently working our way out of. It's called respect. It's something that seems to be in shorter supply than toilet tissue in our current society, especially on social media sites.

So, kudos to Tsunami. As far as I am concerned your message is perfect. You've demonstrated what you are doing to keep me safe. You are offering a suggestion on what I can do to ensure your safety as a patron of your business.

Personally, I don't feel being asked to wear a mask to dinner is any different than a golf course requiring long pants to play around of golf or a formal dining establishment requiring a man to wear a jacket at dinner. If you ask me those two "obligations" make a lot less sense than wearing a face mask during a pandemic. Yet, nobody bitches about "rights" when those requirements are enforced.

I think I know what the brain trust at Tsunami is doing. I think respect is a wonderful thing that's made even more wonderful when it is mutual.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if that started trending on social media?