Arnold's Country Kitchen expanding to weekends to survive, thrive during the pandemic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The well-known Nashville restaurant, Arnold’s Country Kitchen, is expanding to weekends, and getting their liquor license, as they fight to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Owner Kahlil Arnold said they’re making some changes so that they can adapt to the new normal

"It’s been a crazy ride. We’re still worried," Arnold said. "We’re going to do Friday night, Saturday day, and Saturday night, and then the next step will probably be a brunch, and then if all else goes well, Thursday night."

Arnold said the meat and three is getting a liquor license too.

"I know how to order at a bar a jack and coke, or a whiskey soda with a lime, but as far as making drinks, I’m kind of clueless," Arnold jokingly admitted.

He said his friends will help, and the pandemic made him do it.

"I kind of held off for a lot of reasons. I mean honestly, one I have a daughter at Father Ryan I wanted to wait until she graduated, she’s a senior, so I kind of wanted to be able to watch her play soccer, I wanted to be able to kind of go check that out and two, this kind of forced our hand, before we planned on it," he said.

Hopefully, more hours will bring in more money." We got all these taxes to pay, we’re actually busy today, but it’s up and down. One day you can be 40% to 50% down, the next you can be 70% down, you don’t know what your sales are from day to day."

Arnold said more people are eating lunch at home right now since some companies are still remote due to COVID-19 concerns. That's why it's time to launch a dinner menu, and bring the restaurant a breath of new life. "I mean who wouldn’t want an Arnold cheeseburger right? I mean Arnold’s cheeseburger at night, it’s going to be great."

Governor Bill Lee announced his small business relief program at Arnold's Country Kitchen. Kahlil said he’s not sure if they will get it or not, but the deadline to certify is September 25.