COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Restaurant supply company Wasserstrom was established in 1902 and co-president Brad Wasserstrom said the company has been through a lot over the years.
"We've seen everything from The Great Depression, we were very involved in liquor sales pre-prohibition," Wasserstrom said.
Wasserstrom is the fourth generation running the business.
The company has had to make some adjustments in order to survive during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Wasserstrom said this isn't the first time the family business has had to adjust and re-invent the way it operates.
"In my lifetime for sure, there's nothing that compares to this," Wasserstrom said.
He said the largest segments that they serve are restaurants, which were hit hard and quickly.
However, the company also provides goods to grocery stores, hotels, but they also sell healthcare supplies.
"Pre COVID, our top three categories were china, glassware and flatware, so it's all of the things for the tabletop," Wasserstrom said.
With restaurants not being open for people to dine in, the company's sales have shifted.
"Disposables, we're selling a lot of to-go items much more than we did in the past, a lot of cleaning supplies, and those were things we always had, but we've also now started getting into some healthcare," Wasserstrom said.
Wasserstrom said the company is now selling goggles, face shields, face masks, and digital thermometers.
"These are things that we're not only selling to our healthcare customers, but we've gained some new customers in the healthcare world, we sold some things to the state," Wasserstrom said.
He said the items that have been ordered are going extremely fast.
"We have 80,000 face shields on order that are spoken for. We have five million masks that are sold and spoken for that are all on their way in. We've taken orders for 70,000 digital thermometers that are already sold. As soon as we're getting them, they're going right back out the door," Wasserstrom said.
Another part of the company is that they can manufacture some items.
"We're starting to do plexiglass shields that our clients are going to put in front of their drive-thrus and cash registers," Wasserstrom said.
Wasserstrom said they've had to make tough business decisions, but he said he's proud of his team and he wants to continue encouraging clients to lean on them, especially during a pandemic.
"We're trying to get people to know there is going to be a future and Wasserstrom is going to be there. We're going to get through this, whatever it takes," Wasserstrom said.
He said the company is also in the process of putting together a new program for businesses, companies and owners.
It's a six-page document of checklist items of what will need to be done when the time comes to re-open. The list will include everything from dusting tables, to what food or supply items may need to be ordered, and other essentials, such as checking on the water filter.