Hey @Healthyketo !

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. Mid year last year my landlord and I couldn't come to an agreement on a lease and I had to close my brick and mortar. I've been working online sales and random popups just to keep the ball rolling. I have an active loan that I'm sloooooooooooowly chipping away at, and I know that compared to last year's sales I won't be eligible any time soon regardless of what my payback percentage is.

I agree with @Minion that it's time to think outside the box to generate revenue for the business. Due to my finances, I'm in no position to try to reopen my restaurant, but I am still working the coffee roasting side of my biz, and I'm working on opening a small roasterie so there will be a physical space soon. I've been rattling around the idea of setting up a Founders Club like a lot of microbreweries do. Custs pay in an amount and get various perks and freebies throughout the year. It gives me some financial cushion and they get deals and special recognition.

Another thought I've had is to continue to sponsor some of the groups I've sponsored in the past, but up the ante by asking for a favor in return: let me set up a popup shop at their next event. Anything to be able to generate revenue and keep my name fresh in their memories.

Have you thought about setting up a cooking channel on YouTube? Talk about your recipes, show how they're made, then offer a link on your webstore to buy the raw ingredients so your custs can cook along with you at home? I'm getting close to launching that for my coffee biz. Yeah, I know shipping raw will require overnight deliveries and a bit of dry ice, but if someone's that interested in your biz and what you're doing, they'll pay it.

And always, keep posting away on social media. Keep your brand fresh in people's minds. Talk about where you are, what your next steps are, random insights on the restaurant industry, good jokes, whatever.

Hang in there, and be ready to eat some ramen for a while. 🙂 It will get better, and in the long run I think, like @Minion said, you may end up better off!