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Port Arthur and Mid County restaurants are keeping vigil in a time of turmoil.

Restaurant chains are changing nationwide to carryout, delivery and to go in light of recent recommendations to limit social interaction to groups of less than 10.

Local business owners are fighting against the change to keep their doors open and employees on the floor as long as possible.

Downtown, Edith’s Place owner Diane Guidry said, as a small town café, workers are doing everything they can to sustain their way of life.

“It’s very seldom that we have a packed room in here with people coming in and out,” she said. “If we had to close, it would be devastating to us and our employees.”

Guidry said everything is being heavily sanitized from floor to ceiling. Extra measures are in place by providing all food in Styrofoam to-go containers only.

“Virus or no-virus people are still working and need to eat,” she said. “We want to stay open and provide for people as long as the city and government allows us to.”

In Port Acres, The Rodair Roadhouse owner Richard Hudson said it is business as usual.

“I have 60-plus employees that need a paycheck, and they can’t get paid with the restaurant closed,” he said. “So we are taking each day as it comes.”

Hudson said the restaurant will keep churning until the inevitable hits.

“Hopefully, this will pass over, and it can go back to business as usual for everyone,” he said. “Until that time, we keep going. Things could change today or tomorrow, but we remain upbeat and with me, the glass is always half-full.”

Hudson said he will continue to look out for “his family,” no matter what.

“If we have guests that are still willing to come out and see us, we want to be able to provide for them,” he said. “We are like one big family, and when you are family, you look out after each other and try to do what you can to help one other. What better way to help each other than provide a paycheck or a good homestyle Cajun-inspired cooked meal?”

During this uncertain time, Southeast Texas Foodies Facebook page operator Lauren Bebea said it is important to support local businesses in anyway possible.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like this virus taking over our community, and my heart is with these owners,” she said. “There are several ways to help. Start by ordering takeout or delivery from these independent eateries, purchase gift cards to use later and share the information that these businesses are still accepting customers.”

The following is a partial listing of local restaurants that have shared their options with The Port Arthur News. To include your business, email panews@panews.com

Restaurants moving to carryout, delivery only

• Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Starbucks, Firehouse Subs, McDonald’s, Whataburger, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Arby’s, Luby’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Panda Express, Sonic, Popeye’s, Wendy’s, Carl’s Jr., Jimmy John’s, KFC, Pizza Hut

Dine-in available restaurants

• Dairy Queen, Subway, Raising Cane’s, Chili’s, Saltgrass, Domino’s, Little Caesar’s, Neches River Wheelhouse, The Schooner, Tia Juanita’s, Judice’s 1927, The Rodair Roadhouse, Golden Croissant, Sea Ranch Café, Edith’s Place, Kevin Rico Seafood & Oyster Bar, Reel Cajun, Boudain Hut, Touch of Cajun Café, Gather: Paleo Café & Market