This was anything but a typical Saint Patrick's Day at McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe, a hot spot for green beer and Irish food specialties every March 17.

There are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in northwest Pennsylvania, but with Erie County and all of the state under an emergency declaration, McGarrey's like all bars and restaurants, has been asked to transition from full service to take-out or delivery only.

The circumstances made for a very busy day of taking telephone orders for McGarrey's favorite reuben sandwiches and corned beef or ham and cabbage dinners.

Even before the lunch hour the rush was on.  The phones were ringing non-stop with people placing orders, some like Richard Vicary of Vicary Insurance Agency taking out lunches for his entire office staff.  "I came here to get the famous reuben sandwiches, I’m taking it o some of my staff and my daughters, we always get them every year," Vicary said.  "So we decided we need to support them, make sure we come up here and support the staff and people who work here because we feel so bad that they’re having a rough day, so here we are and we’re going to continue the tradition."

Sue LeFaiver who comes here every year ordered two reubens and a ham and cabbage meal.  "We’re picking something up for a friend to drop that off then my sister and I are going to have our normal reuben sandwich and green beer, we had our own green beer at home," she said.  LeFaiver also said she gave a big tip to support the staff.

For some, ordering from McGarrey's is a Saint Patrick's Day tradition.  Others decided to place an order for pick-up or delivery because they want to be sure that locally owned small businesses are supported during these difficult times.

Austin Stuart who works at First National Bank downtown was picking up about $100 worth of reubens for his office. "I think it’s important that Erie as a community comes together to support local businesses...because they’re going to be hurting, as people can’t be sitting down, I mean this whole restaurant’s empty right now, so think it’s important."

Kevin McGarrey owns the business along with his sister-in-law and nephew.  Although they've had to layoff servers and cut back on cooks in the kitchen because of the Coronavirus emergency, today they were calling in extra help to help keep up with many more orders than expected.  Something Kevin called heart warming.   "I’ve had to layoff which is really, really hard," McGarrey said. "Obviously we don’t know how long but we all gotta bond together, it’s like 9-11, where everybody came together and this is the time to come together and it’s not about yourself it’s about everyone else that’s with you," he added.

McGarrey's, like other small businesses, has no way of knowing how long this situation will last, but they plan to follow the rules and do what it takes to help protect people from the spread of COVID-19.  They will continue to take calls for take-out or delivery orders.