COVID-19 Updates at Water Street Coffee
As we continue to stay vigilante in our approach to operate safely and in accordance to local, state and federal guidelines, please see the following updates as they pertain to our cafés, kitchen, roaster and administrative facilities. To learn more about changes to café hours, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit our a café page.
Date: June 22, 2021. 5:00am EST
Effective Tuesday, June 22 - According to local and state guidelines, COVID-19 restrictions have been rescinded throughout our facilities. Masks will now be optional, regardless of vaccine status, and our building capacities will be fully restored. Our team will continue to follow internal quarantine guidelines. In addition, we will follow guidelines of our Wholesale Partners when delivering coffee and servicing equipment.
To learn more, please read our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan below.
We are excited to be able to share smiles again!
Updated: June 22, 2021. 5:00am EST
COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan Update
Introduction
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak conditions on businesses, workers, customers, and the public, it is important for all employers to implement a plan for COVID-19 prevention and containment.
About COVID-19
Symptoms of COVID-19 Infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can cause illness ranging from mild to severe and, in some cases, can be fatal. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some people infected with the virus have reported experiencing other non-respiratory symptoms including fatigue, body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Other people, referred to as asymptomatic cases, have experienced no symptoms at all. According to the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
How COVID-19 Spreads
The virus is spread mainly from person to-person, including:
■ Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
■ Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Additionally, COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in many affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. People are most contagious 48 - 72 hours before experiencing symptoms.
With this knowledge in hand Water Street Coffee Joint is committed to providing a safe workplace and a safe place for customers to enjoy high quality food and beverage. As we welcome the public into our spaces here are the precautions and measures we are implementing to keep everyone safe.
Vaccinations
There are several vaccinations that have proven highly effective against COVID-19. Persons having attained a fully vaccinated status have different requirements as recommended by the CDC and local health department.
**“Fully Vaccinated” for the purposes of this guidance, the CDC states people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 ≥ 2 weeks after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or ≥ 2 weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen).† This guidance applies to all fully vaccinated people. However, people should discuss with their provider if they have any questions about their individual situation, such as immunocompromising conditions or other concerns.
Infection Prevention Measures
Prescreening
Employees. Every employee must complete a pre-shift screening and self-report any COVID-19 symptoms or potential exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 patient or person experiencing any COVID symptoms. In the event of an affirmative response to any of the pre-screening questions, the employee will not be allowed to begin work. To return to work they must be fever free for 24 hours without use of medicine that reduces fever, other symptoms have improved (for example, when cough and shortness of breath have improved) and at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared or their last known exposure. An employee may return after 7 days, as long as they have also received a negative COVID-19 test result.
Vendors. All vendors must respond to a pre-screening health questionnaire before gaining access to facilities. In the event of an affirmative response, vendors are to contact Water Street Coffee by phone to make alternative arrangements.
Customers. All customers are required to review a pre-screening questionnaire. In the event of an affirmative response, they are not to access the building. Orders should be placed remotely and arrangements made for contactless delivery.
Hand Washing
Employees. All employees have been trained on proper hand washing protocol. They wash their hands at the start of each shift, after using the restroom, and after contact with any high volume touch points. They commit to washing their hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and single use paper towels are provided and fully stocked at all hand washing stations.
Vendors. Vendors are given access to our fully stocked handwashing stations. They are to wash their hands upon arrival and after any contact with high touch points.
Customers. Customers have access to fully stocked handwashing sinks in our restrooms.
Cleaning
Employees. Will continue all our health department recommended cleaning protocols, but with increased frequency and thoroughness. Contact surfaces in public spaces are disinfected frequently. Sanitizer buckets are changed frequently per manufacturer's guidelines. Our quat sanitizer for dishes and bleach water preparations are approved by the CDC for this use. Staff are disinfecting high-touch places like doorknobs, countertops, light switches, steering wheels, coffee scoops, refrigerator handles, portafilters, coffee brewing equipment, credit card swipers, telephones, chairs, tables and the like.
Personal Protective Equipment
Employees. Face masks are optional for our employees. Unvaccinated staff are provided with a free, reusable face mask by request.
Vendors. Face masks are optional.
Customers. Face masks are optional.
Capacity limits, Curfews and Social Distancing
Effective June 22, 2021 the State of Michigan no longer requires COVID-related capacity limits or curfews at restaurants.
Designated Compliance Coordinator
Each shift has a designated COVID-19 Compliance Coordinator. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with all actions described in this Preparedness and Response plan during the shift. They are also responsible for monitoring daily operations and appropriately escalating any safety issues to management.
Customers that notice any safety issues or areas for improvement may speak with the on-shift Compliance Coordinator. If they would like to submit concerns remotely they may do so by email operations@waterstreetcoffee.com or calling the business office at 269-488-7178.
Remote work and travel
Essential frontline work and essential local travel will continue as regularly scheduled.
Remote work remains optional for select positions. Water Street Coffee business related travel is optional and assessed on a case by case basis.
Reporting COVID-19
Water Street Coffee Joint is committed to the safety of our employees and customers. If someone entering our facility poses a threat to the health and safety of others in the building we will require them to leave.
Employees are required to immediately call the Manager On Call if a positive COVID case enters any Water Street Coffee facility. Within 24 hours Water Street Coffee Joint will notify any co-workers, contractors, suppliers, or customers, to the best of our ability, who may have come into contact with the person with a confirmed case of COVID-19, while maintaining confidentiality/anonymity of the infected person whenever possible.
Plan Updates and Expiration
This Plan responds to the COVID-19 outbreak. As this pandemic progresses, Water Street Coffee Joint will update this Plan and its corresponding processes.
This Plan will expire upon conclusion of its need, as determined by Water Street Coffee Joint and in accordance with guidance from local, state, and federal health officials.
Date: June 1, 2021. 5:00am EST
Effective Tuesday, June 1 - According to local and state guidelines, we are revising certain capacity and social distancing limits at our cafés. Here is a brief highlight of the changes:
• No outdoor dining capacity limits
• Indoor dining parties are no longer limited to 6 individuals, as long as the group does not exceed the total café capacity
• Our Downtown café indoor seating capacity is now 25 individuals
To learn more, please read our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.
Date: May 15, 2021. 9:00am EST
Effective Saturday, May 15 - According to the recent order from the MDHHS, customers who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask in our cafés or outdoor patios.
To learn more, please read our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.
Date: March 5, 2021. 6:00am EST
Effective Friday, March 5 - According to the recent order from the MDHHS, Water Street Coffee indoor dining capacities will expand to 50% of our normal limit. Please remember to wear your mask when you are not eating or drinking, practice social distancing and limit groups to no more than 6 individuals.
To learn more, please read our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.
Date: January 29, 2021. 6:00pm EST
Effective Monday, February 1 - According to the recent order from the MDHHS, Water Street Coffee indoor dining will re-open with a 25% capacity limit. Please remember to wear your mask, practice social distancing and limit groups to 6 individuals.
To learn more, please read our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.
Date: November 16, 2020. 5:00pm EST
Effective Wednesday, November 18 - According to the recent order from the MDHHS, all Water Street Coffee indoor dining areas will be closed. Customers are still welcome to enter our cafés to place to-go orders and pick up online or mobile orders. In addition, our outdoor patio seating will remain open for customers, as long as capacity does not exceed 6 persons per table.
Proper social distancing and face coverings, such as masks, are still required when indoors or while utilizing our outdoor patio areas. To learn more, please read our COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.
Date: July 29, 2020. 6:00am EST
We have been so excited to see our customers inside again! Remember, we must require customers to wear masks to enter our cafés, according to Executive Order No. 2020-147. Thank you for your understanding and kindness towards our baristas during this time. Stay safe and healthy!
Date: July 2, 2020. 6:00am EST
Effective Thursday, July 2 - According to Executive Order No. 2020-143, alcoholic beverages ordered at our Downtown, Oakland and Portage locations will be delivered via table service.
Date: June 8, 2020. 6:00am EST
Effective Monday, June 8 - All Water Street Cafés officially re-open to the public! According to local government guidelines, we have implemented many safety precautions, including limiting our building capacities by 50%.
Date: May 26, 2020. 7:00am EST
Our Borgess Café officially re-opens! Plus, our Oakland Café will now open at 6am Monday - Friday. See our Borgess Café hours below.
Borgess Café
Monday - Friday: 7am - 2pm
Saturday - Sunday: 7:30am - 2pm
Date: May 14, 2020. 8:00am EST
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have noticed delays in shipping from our carrier services over the past couple of weeks. Our Water Street Coffee production team works diligently to ensure customer orders are prepared and shipped in a timely manner. If you have questions regarding tracking information of your items, please contact our production department at (269) 488-2802 or via email at orders@waterstreetcoffee.com.
Date: May 11, 2020. 8:00am EST
Effective today we are extending our café hours! Our Portage and Oakland locations will be open until 6pm daily. And our Sprinkle Rd Drive-Thru will be open until 5pm daily. Full café hours are below.
Oakland Café (online or phone order pick-up only)
Monday - Sunday: 7:00am - 6:00pm
Portage Drive-Thru
Monday - Friday: 6:30am - 6:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sprinkle Rd Drive-Thru
Monday - Saturday: 6:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday: 7:00am - 5:00pm
Downtown Café (online or phone order pick-up only)
Monday - Saturday: 7:30am - 5:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Borgess Café
closed
Date: May 10, 2020. 8:00am EST
Our Portage Café will now have a table on the patio near the front door available for customers to walk to pick up their items. Choose "patio" at checkout on our mobile app and call us when you arrive.
Date: April 20, 2020. 7:30am EST
Water Street Coffee Joint Downtown has re-opened with the following hours:
Monday – Saturday: 7:30am - 5pm
Sunday: 8am - 5pm.
Date: March 22, 2020. 12:00pm EST
Effective Sunday, March 22 - Water Street Coffee Joint Downtown will be closed indefinitely.
Effective Sunday, March 22 at 12:00pm - Water Street Coffee Joint Borgess will be closed indefinitely.
Effective Monday, March 23 - Water Street Coffee Joint Portage will transition to Drive Thru Only.
Effective Monday, March 23 - Water Street Coffee Joint Oakland and Portage will no longer be serving take out beer and wine.
Date: March 18, 2020. 4:00pm EST
No Water Street employee is required to work at this time. Water Street Coffee is operating in compliance with all federal and state mandates related to COVID-19. We are open at this time for employees that want to and/or need to work.
Date: March 16, 2020. 2:30pm EST
Café Hours
Effective Monday, March 16 all coffee shops will close at 5pm everyday.
Effective Monday, March 16 at 3pm all coffee shops will close their dining areas and will be take-out orders only. In compliance with a statewide order, customers will not be allowed to dine in.
Action Water Street Coffee is Taking:
1) All employees are washing hands frequently.
2) Disinfecting counters, tables and high-traffic surfaces with the appropriate sanitizing solution.
3) Monitoring personal health.
4) Temporarily not accepting customer-owned mugs. We will, however, still honor the travel mug discount.
5) Access to cream, sugar and other coffee condiments has been removed. Our baristas will individually add by request.
6) Training classes, all-staff meetings, roaster tours, food tastings and the like are all postponed indefinitely.
7) All staff that are capable of working remotely will do so.
8) All wholesale coffee calibrations and non-essential maintenance are postponed indefinitely.
9) All Water Street Coffee related travel is on hold indefinitely; this includes airline travel, as well as interstate and non-essential local travel. Water Street local deliveries will occur as regularly scheduled, with delivery drivers executing all required hand washing and sanitizing protocols.
How Can You Help Stay Healthy?
1) Wash your hands frequently.
2) Stay home if you are sick.
3) Cover coughs and sneezes.
Ways You Can Purchase Goods:
1) TAKE-OUT
2) Use low-contact payments, like Apple Pay.
3) Use our ORDERING APP to order and pay ahead for pick-up.
For DESKTOP, click here.
For MOBILE, download from App Store or Google Play.
4) Order bagged coffee through our online Coffee Subscription and have it shipped to your home.
5) Purchase gift cards for use at a later time.
6) Visit Drive-Thru's at the following locations:
PORTAGE DRIVE-THRU: 245 W. Centre Ave. | ph: (269) 271-1900
SPRINKLE RD DRIVE-THRU: 2603 S. Sprinkle Rd. | ph: (269) 532-5325
ALCOHOL PURCHASES AT PARTICIPATING CAFES:
With the exception of sealed wine and beer to take away, all alcohol sales will cease during this time.
As we lock arms with our baristas, roaster staff, kitchen workers and administrative team to navigate the unknown weeks ahead, we ask for your partnership with Water Street and other local small businesses to support them how you can.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Water Street Coffee
