‘We’re open’ signs return at restaurants in Georgia
SAVANNAH, GA. — With tables wide apart and staff wearing masks, some Georgia restaurants reopened for limited dine-in service Monday as the state loosened more coronavirus restrictions, but many eateries remained closed amid concerns that serving in-house meals could put employees and customers at risk.
The dine-in service and movie screenings were allowed to resume a few days after some other businesses, including barbershops, gyms, tattoo shops and nail salons, began seeing customers. While many of those establishments gratefully opened their doors Friday after a monthlong closure, others did not feel ready. A similar mixed response played out Monday.
“We’re ecstatic to have them back,” said Chris Heithaus, who manages 87 Waffle House restaurants in coastal areas of
Georgia and the Carolinas. “Alot of people, I think, want to get back to the new normal, which will be social distancing and all that. But they will be able to eat inside the restaurant.”
The “new normal” at the popular chain known for hash brown breakfasts included employees wearing masks, booths closed to keep customers apart and traditional plastic place mat menus replaced by disposable paper menus.
Waffle House spokeswoman Njeri Boss said 330 of the chain’s 400 Georgia restaurants stayed open for takeout orders during the lockdown, and most of them were expected to start serving dine-in customers Monday.
Gov. Brian Kemp announced last week that he would relax restrictions despite health experts’ warnings of a potential surge in infections and disapproval from President Donald Trump.
Kemp issued 39 requirements that restaurants must follow if they reopen, including observing a limit of 10 customers per 500 square feet and ensuring that all employees wear face coverings all the time. Movie theater ushers were ordered to enforce social distancing.
Alex Brounstein, the owner of Atlantabased burger chain Grindhouse Killer Burgers, said he had no plans to reopen Monday, and he questioned how any restaurant can resume dine-in service.
“You’re talking about people putting their mouths on things in your restaurant. You now have dirty dishes going back into your kitchen. To me, it’s just completely illogical,” he said.
Elsewhere in the U.S., patrons, eager to escape stay-home restrictions that have lasted weeks, entered businesses in states taking steps to reopen.
In Colorado, retail businesses with curbside delivery were able to reopen. Hospitals also eased restrictions on elective surgeries.
In Montana, retail businesses fully reopened but were required to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines.
Tennessee allowed restaurants to reopen for dine-in or takeout.
Los Angeles Times contributed.