Dine-in allowed to reopen May 11
The state’s restaurants will be allowed to reopen dine-in areas on May 11 with numerous stipulations forced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Wednesday, a “baby step” that Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said is better than “no step at all.”
According to the governor’s office, those Phase One stipulations include having no more than 33% occupancy rate of the restaurants; requiring face coverings, physical distancing and daily staff screenings; allowing no groups larger than 10; no self-service; a prohibition on bars and entertainment within restaurants; and encouraging
senior hour, reservations and preordering.
“I at least appreciate that they’re trying to allow the other restaurants to try to get back open,” Arrison said following the governor’s highly anticipated announcement, which was made in Little Rock during his daily COVID-19 press briefing.
“It’s just a tough thing; it’s going to be very difficult for our restaurants, with only a third of their restaurants open. The profit margins in restaurants are very small already, and when you reduce the size of the restaurant by two-thirds, it’s going to be very, very difficult.”
He said he is anxious to see how many restaurants that aren’t currently open will actually reopen on May 11.
“I think it’s going to be difficult because you’ll have less seats, so less money, plus I’m worried that they’re going to have problems getting their employees to come back to work who are making unemployment, plus the $600 a week,” Arrison said. “I think for some restaurants it will not be doable because they don’t have the square footage to make it work the way a restaurant’s configured.”
Hutchinson said he recognizes that for most restaurants, operating at a 33% occupancy rate isn’t enough to cover overhead cost, but success in Phase One will bring success in fully reopening.
“If we can have this limited opening for dine-in purposes 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 to more normal operations,” he said.
If Phase One is conducted successfully, Hutchinson said a Phase Two will follow that lifts the occupancy rate to 67%, and then there will eventually be a Phase Three that will entail full occupancy. As for the
phase progression timeline, he said it will be based upon COVID-19 case data.
Colorado Grill Owner Nicolas Issa said he will have to evaluate overhead and employee cost before deciding if his restaurant will be able to open to dine-in with only 33% occupancy, or if it will be wiser to wait until Phase Two and open at 67% occupancy.
“It’s not enough. … At least
50% occupancy would be doable and a little better for operations and revenue and cost. … With 33% I don’t think we’re going to be able to reach those numbers,” Issa said. “… I wish that (the governor will) be able to consider the fact that we’re hurting where restaurants can only operate at 33% capacity.”
Taco Mama co-owner Shane Bratton also said he thinks the community will have to take “baby steps” in re-opening.
“I want things to get better so we can go to Phase Two for the 67%,” Bratton said. “So I think it’s a good idea for it to start off slow … I really do believe it’s the correct step. I was hoping it was going to be Monday (that restaurants can reopen), but we’re doing all the necessary steps inside to make sure our employees and our patrons will be safe.”
He also noted that although operating at a 33% occupancy will make meeting operating costs difficult, he thinks the guideline is both “reasonable and doable” for Taco Mama; adding the fact that the restaurant has an outdoor seating area will help to bring in even more customers while continuing to follow the Phase One guidelines.
Guidelines in Phase One for restaurants reopening, according to Hutchinson’s news conference, include the following:
• Physical distancing between patrons and tables.
• Reservations and preordering encouraged to reduce waiting.
• Face coverings for staff and patrons.
• Gloves for staff.
• Daily staff screenings.
• Frequent hand washing.
• No groups over 10 people.
• Senior hour encouraged.
• No self-service.
• Clean and disinfect tables and menus after each meal.
• Bars for congregation purposes and entertainment within restaurants are prohibited.
Hutchinson noted the same guidelines apply for outdoor seating, and that patrons can be denied service for not following them.
Arrison said the quicker the guidelines are followed, the quicker “public confidence” will come back, and the quicker Phase Two begins.
“We’ve just got to do 100% of what they say and hopefully they’ll relax the restrictions,” he said. “Hopefully, we’re not too far off from when we can open and welcome back all those customers who come for our great hospitality and restaurants and hotels.”
During the news conference, Hutchinson also announced the creation of the Arkansas Ready for Business
$15 million grant program. He said the program will assist businesses through Phase One by offsetting expenses associated with ensuring the health and safety of employees and patrons, and help to “rebuild consumer confidence.”
“We realize that restaurants and small businesses have struggled financially, they’ve been out of work, and they now have to reconfigure their restaurants in a way that is safe,” he said. “They might have to move some of their tables out for the new configuration, they’re going to have to buy some personal protective equipment for their staff and perhaps even for the customers, they’re going to have to do a number of things. … As you invest in safety and health, the consumer will feel confident and say ‘yes, this is somewhere good to go.’”
Eligible expenses through the grant include personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer stations, cleaning supplies and services, and other one-time expenses to enable a business to reopen or resume normal operations.
It’s noted that all industry sectors are eligible and funds in $1,000 per full-time employee, backdated to March 1, up to $100,000 per company, are available. Applications will be accepted at ArkansasEDC.com/ COVID19.
According to an email from Visit Hot Springs, as businesses reopen, they are encouraged to update their business listings’ days and hours of operation, as well as, what services they will be offering, on each of its pages at http://www.hotsprings.org and https://hotspringstracker. com/.
“Your customers will be searching for the most up to date information from their mobile devices and computers. Accurate information will prove positive for your business,” the email reads.