Restaurant chefs, owners rejoice over return of outdoor dining.
For many regional sites, takeout sales had declined sharply during the second lockdown
After enduring the second round of restrictions in a year, weary Bay Area restaurant owners reacted Monday with a mixture of relief and joy to the news that county officials throughout the region will follow the state’s lead and allow outdoor dining to resume.
For most, it’s been a long six weeks. Business was limited to takeout and delivery of meals during the normally brisk holiday season, and many entrepreneurs were forced to lay off employees after seeing sales decline sharply from the first lockdown.
“My head is spinning,” said Laura Magu, co-owner with her chef husband Paul of Rêve, a French bistro in Lafayette, where the blankets and heaters will be ready for returning diners. “We saw half of the takeout sales each week in January versus what we saw in March and April. Customers are tired of takeout, I think, and a lot of people are financially and
emotionally hurting.
“This latest shutdown forced restaurants to cut staff right at the holidays. This was heartbreaking. Our team is like our family.”
Jim Stump, owner of Forthright Oyster Bar & Kitchen in Campbell and The Table in San Jose’s Willow Glen, agrees the second shutdown has been worse than the first time.
“Just amassing debt,” he said in an email. “Hopefully, the second PPP loan will help.”
After switching the focus at his restaurants to a takeout model, he said it will take him a week to change the menus, hire and train staff and reopen outdoor seating.
The turnaround may be quicker for Petiscos, a new restaurant in downtown San Jose. In November, with a lockdown looming, Carlos and Fernanda Carreira decided to introduce the
public to their Portuguese small-plates eatery anyway — only to have to move their sidewalk tables on South First Street back inside a couple of weeks later.
“It’s great news and we hope to open Petiscos ASAP,” he said, noting that their upscale restaurant, Adega, will stay closed until indoor dining resumes.
In San Francisco, the Vault Garden quickly sent out an email Monday to customers with plans for a Bourbon Dinner, a Drag Brunch and other events to “put the social back in social distancing.”
“We are weatherproofed, heated and covered, all while promoting great air flow and exceptional spacing between tables. We never compromise safety,” the owners vowed.
Many restaurateurs never thought outdoor dining should have been halted in December.
“Medical professionals and scientists know a lot more now about the spread and are seeing scientific studies saying that outdoor dining does not contribute to the spread of COVID,” Magu said, “so there is a lot of frustration in regards to why we were shut down this second time, after doing so much to comply with the regulations.”
Randy Musterer, who worked as a cancer researcher before opening Sushi Confidential in San Jose and Campbell, said restaurants are able to provide a safe outdoor dining experience.
He’s pleased that South Bay health officials have finally aligned their business regulations with those of the state and neighboring counties. “This will help avoid confusion that has constantly plagued Santa Clara County.”
Now, Musterer said, it’s up to diners to do their part.
“Our hope is that customers will understand the importance of following the guidelines so we don’t take another step back and have to shut back down again.”