Restaurants now open with restrictions

SILOAM SPRINGS — City restaurants, as of Sunday, were preparing their dining rooms for Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s opening timetable.

The governor announced April 29 restaurants would be able to open their dining rooms for limited dine-in service beginning Monday. Local restaurants were preparing their eateries to comply with social distancing and sanitary guidelines issued by the state.

“We are still preparing,” said Matt Varner, owner of Back Forty Restaurant. “You have to make sure people feel safe.”

During the first phase of the governor’s plan, restaurants will be limited to 33 percent of the occupancy rate. Varner said Back Forty was operating at that capacity with curbside and take out services. For restaurants like Park House Kitchen+Bar, the occupancy limits are daunting.

“There are a lot of extra precautions we will be taking for only 33 percent capacity at one time,” said Alma Sanchez, owner of Park House.

Sanchez said the occupancy limitation would hinder her business if she wasn’t continuing to offer curbside pick up and delivery.

Another provision involves

the encouragement of a senior hour. Varner considered it, but the problem was 40% of his business comes from people 60 and older, he said.

Park House doesn’t plan to offer a senior hour because not enough of Park House’s customers are seniors, Sanchez said.

Back Forty’s plan is to focus more on safety in general. Varner planned to separate tables to make sure there’s room in walkways, he said. Back Forty isn’t planning on taking reservations, he said.

“You can’t distance them at tables,” Varner said. “But you can separate tables to make sure there is room in walkways.”

Park House plans on using their patio and courtyard at first to provide the spacing and will encourage reservations when they open their interior, Sanchez said.

Another restriction restaurants face is bars will have to

remain closed and live entertainment will be prohibited. The restriction will hit establishments such as Park House the hardest, its owner said.

“This majorly effects my business because we normally have a very active night scene,” Sanchez said.

Another requirement is customers and staff will have to wear face coverings. Customers will be able to take off their face coverings when beverages and food arrive, Sanchez said.

Back Forty doesn’t plan to offer customers masks to wear, Varner said. Park House will supply masks for $1 per mask, Sanchez said. She said the fee for masks is at cost.

While most restaurants are planning to open, 28 Springs posted on Facebook on Thursday they’ll remain closed to further train the staff on the new procedures from the governor.

“While some restaurants will start to reopen, we have decided for the safety of you and our staff, that our dining room will remain closed for now, the post states. “We want to make sure that we are extra safe and have all the tools necessary to not only implement these guidelines at the beginning but for an extended period if necessary.”

While bars will be closed, restaurants will be able to serve alcohol to customer who come in for a meal, Hutchinson said.

“Success brings success,” Hutchinson said. “So if we can have this limited opening of dining services for our restaurants on May 11 and we’re successful in making sure we follow the guidelines and we protect safety then we’re going to be able to go on and go on to more normal operations.”

Marc Hayot may be reached by email at mhayot@nwadg.com.

“This majorly effects my business because we normally have a very active night scene.” — Alma Sanchez, owner of Park House