WHO’S HUNGRY?
Dining out starting to come back to normal, restaurants at 25% are itching to increase capacity
As 6 a.m. arrived on Friday, a bewitching hour of sorts for a return to indoor dining following a shutdown due to COVID-19, The New Ewing Diner opened for business.
Sure, state health restrictions galore tethered gastronomical pursuits as Gov. Phil “The Turtle” Murphy continued his pragmatic march toward new normalcy following a hellish six months of death as coronavirus killed nearly 16,000 Garden State residents since March.
Peter Gromitsaris, a co-owner with Pete Kritsikokas of The New Ewing Diner located on Parkway Ave. and Maryland Crab Seafood House on North Olden Ave., lamented Murphy’s Laws of dealing with a pandemic that shuttered many small businesses, especially restaurants.
Murphy’s, trust-the-science approach, had nixed a plan to restart indoor dining in July. Outdoor dining had been allowed since mid-June.
Gromitsaris, an insomniac since indoor dining ended, did not sneer at his grand reopening, desired more than a 25-percent capacity recovery.
“Fifty-percent, maybe, by the end of September and we may begin to see light at the end of the tunnel,” Gromitsaris estimated.
“If we have a warm opening to fall then our outdoor dining may last into October. Listen, I have a lot of respect for (Gov. Murphy) but I want to know how we move forward, want to see the next steps.”
Gromitsaris and Kritsikokas were ahead of the curve with installation of massive tents that allow outdoor dining. The New Ewing (outdoor) Diner accommodates almost 100 guests with a combination of tables and picnic tables.
Outdoor dining, plus 25-percent capacity indoor eating opportunities and takeout purchases, prove no match for a $15,000 monthly mortgage and taxes bill at New Ewing Diner plus a $17,000 nut at Maryland Crab Seafood House. Utilities, plus other expenses, would cause any father with three sons in college to tear.
“They’re all headed back to college next week. They are three beautiful boys who helped out during the summer. Taking care of them and our family is the most important thing. So, yeah, when tough times come, you lose sleep. But I’ve been a fighter all my life,” Gromitsaris said proudly.
The New Ewing Diner seats 132 patrons which means current restrictions limit that number to just 33.
“Plus, even eating outside became unbearable during parts of summer. Nobody wants to eat when it’s 95 degrees. We lost a lot of our customers, especially older ones, who love the comfort of air conditioning,” Gromitsaris explained.
“The numbers are just not in our favor right now. But I like a good challenge. We’re still The New Ewing Diner where people love to visit. They know to expect a great meal and service.”
“Will we survive? We made it through the summer. And it’s 25-percent now. Give us 50-percent as soon as possible and we will fight our way through the winter.”