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We're Open Detroit: Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles

Posted at 6:15 PM, Apr 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-29 18:15:30-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — We’re Open Detroit is all about helping out local businesses during these difficult times. Today we’re exploring a restaurant that specializes in comfort food.

Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles has been opened since 2015.

“Chicken, with some pretty damn good waffles to be perfectly honest.”

That’s how owner Ron Bartell describes some of the dishes at Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles. They are located on Livernois, just north of 7 Mile Road along the Avenue of Fashion.

With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down businesses, like most restaurants, Kuzzo’s is “adjusting on the fly.”

Kuzzo’s closed down in August to do a top-to-bottom renovation, making the dine-in experience better. But they opened back up for business in March for only 48 hours before they were forced to shutdown, like everyone else.

“We had this grand-reopening planned and then a pandemic breaks out.”

With months of being closed and now forced to be a carry out only restaurant, Kuzzo’s is struggling financially. Ron says there is a silver-lining.

“We just don’t have a lot of debt, so that’s been able to help us, but in order to operate, we do need income.”

Looking at the books, revenue has dropped by 80%. They’ve cut staff from 38 to 12. They partnered up with the city to provide meals for first responders.

Kuzzo’s has brought down their prices, even offering $10 family meals that can feed two to three people.

Ron says they are taking it day-by-day, but hope more folks will try their takeout.

“Come by and support us, support the businesses in the neighborhood, we would all appreciate it.”

For more information on the restaurant, go to: http://www.kuzzoschickenandwaffles.com/

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