HUNGRY FOR BUSINESS
Rhinebeck eateries adapt to the times to draw customers as shutdown eases
Fifteen restaurants have expanded into the streets, courtyards and lawns of this Northern Dutchess village to offer “European-style dining” amid the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Gary Bassett said Friday.
Speaking as a guest of Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro during a Facebook Live event, Bassett said the expansion — made possible by Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowing outdoor table service as part of a region’s Phase 2 of the reopening process — has given the village business district “an opportunity to come back and have a life.”
Molinaro hosted the event from the shaded outdoor dining patio of the Beekman Arms on Mill Street (Route 9).
Since March 20, Molinaro said, he has met weekly with the elected leaders of Dutchess
County villages, towns and cities, and he said each has found innovative ways to cater to customers. From curbside pickup to curbside dining, “it’s remarkable to see that we can still work together” to create “walkable community” atmospheres, the executive said.
Mary Kay Vrba, president and CEO of Dutchess Tourism Inc., said 80% of the county’s tourism businesses closed in March and 80% of their employees lost their jobs, and she cited in particular the Omega Institute, which ordinarily draws 30,000 visitors to the county but will not open this summer, and the Dutchess County Fair, which has canceled its annual August run.
But Vrba, also a guest of Molinaro’s on Friday, said the county is finding ways to recover from losses caused by the pandemic and is promoting its natural resources and outdoor recreational opportunities — from hiking, boating and fishing to outdoor dining and brewery tours.
“We’re here and we will come back because Dutchess County is resilient,” Vrba said.
Molinaro said the region appears on track to begin Phase 3 of reopening on Tuesday, June 23. In that phase, restaurants can offer indoor dining but at no more than 50 percent capacity.
The executive said he hopes area restaurants will continue to maintain outside seating for as long as weather permits.
By the numbers
Ulster County on Thursday said it had had 1,786 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 1,393 recovered cases and 85 deaths since the outbreak began. There were 308 active cases of the illness, the county said.
Dutchess County, which last updated its data on Wednesday, reported 4,088 confirmed cases, 377 active cases, 3,563 recovered cases and 148 deaths.
Greene County reported 319 cases, three active cases and 18 deaths.
Columbia County reported 427 cases, 31 active cases and 37 deaths.
For local stories about the coronavirus, go to bit.ly/DFCOVID19. For live updates, visit bit.ly/DFcovid19live.