An item from ONE TEN Craft Meatery. Photo provided.

WARSAW – Trying to figure out which local restaurants are offering takeout?

Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce has the answer.

Less than two days after Indiana’s governor mandated bars and restaurants close their doors (except for carryout and takeout) over concerns for the coronavirus, the chamber created a Facebook page titled To Go Kosciusko that allows businesses to post updates on how they are providing carryout and what’s available.

The Facebook listing is open to all restaurants in Kosciusko County and not just chamber members.

The effort comes at a time when everyone from the mayor to council members to representatives of Warsaw Community Development Corporation is asking the public to support restaurants any way they can.

The Facebook page is quickly catching on as dozens of businesses are posting updates and 1,500 people are following the page. In recent hours, Stacy’s Restaurant in Leesburg touted its breaded cheeseburger, the Bulldog Saloon in Mentone promoted its pizza and HopLore Brewing touted its take-n-bake brisket and family size 4 cheese mac.

“I didn’t really expect it to grow as quickly as it has, but we are thankful,” said Lauren Klusman, the marketing and communications manager for the chamber.

“We received a lot of messages from restaurants thanking us for putting it out there because it’s helping them and giving them exposure … a lot of people are saying they didn’t even know certain restaurants existed until they saw it on the page, and that’s really cool,” she said.

The chamber also has other related efforts to support local businesses.

Big Picture Imagery Sign Group, of Warsaw, donated signs indicating stores are open for takeout. Those arrived at the chamber office Friday, March 20. There are separate signs for Warsaw businesses and those outside of the city.

Klusman said the city of Warsaw has waived the temporary sign fee for the promotion.

The chamber is also launching a social media campaign for businesses that are chamber members for a gift card giveaway.

Anyone who orders takeout can qualify for the contest by sharing a photo of their meal on Instagram and Facebook and tagging the chamber and business. The chamber agreed to match the businesses to cover the cost of the gift cards.

Companies participating in the gift card giveaway include Cerulean Restaurant, Light Rail Café, Penguin Point, Saucy’s Barnyard BBQ & Catering, American Table, ONE TEN Craft Meatery, The Igloo, Subway (Silver Lake only), Noa Noa, Mad Anthony’s, The Olive Branch, Maple Leaf Farms, HopLore Brewing, Male Fashions and Glam.

The chamber has also created a page dedicated to providing advice for businesses struggling with the virus crisis.

“We really care about our members and we want to see them succeed,” Klusman said. “We feel it is our responsibility to be there for them when they need us the most and to support our community any way we can.”

The chamber is staffing its office with limited personnel. Anyone wanting signs can send an email to Klusman.

Rob Parker, president and CEO of Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, and Scott Wiley, member relations manager, hold signs available for free to businesses that have takeout service. One sign is for Warsaw businesses and the other is for businesses outside of the city. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.