The restaurants received on Friday night so that customers could go through their doors again.
“It will be a huge burden on our shoulders to get people back inside,” said Rob Pelszinski, owner of Mount Airy Taproom.
Its restaurant and bar opened in 2019, six months before the city closed its restaurants due to the spread of COVID-19 in March.
Pelszinski said the dining room and its staff are ready to welcome customers again. A heated outdoor patio and dining service have helped sustain his restaurant, but it’s not enough.
“It’s hard. You don’t get rich by paying rent at a restaurant you can’t stay in,” Pelszinski said.
In South Philadelphia, Bridget Foy said she is excited to show off her dining room for the first time on Saturday.
SEE ALSO: Bridget Foy reopens with pop-up cafe after a devastating fire
A fire destroyed the local Bar and Bridget Foy’s kitchen in 2017.
“With a capacity of 25%, our tables are socially spaced. We are very lucky to have a new HVAC system, so the ventilation is excellent,” Foy said.
The restaurant inside the Philadelphia restaurants has been banned since November 20.
On Saturday, January 16, restaurants may reopen, but must comply with strict restrictions.
SEE ALSO: The indoor restaurant will resume on January 16 in Philadelphia, but with restrictions
They can only operate at a capacity of 25% and without bar stools. No more than four people can sit at a table and must come from the same household.
Guests must wear masks if they are not actively eating or drinking.
While restaurateurs look forward to reopening, I know there are challenges in convincing people to eat inside.
Pelszinski said he and his staff are taking all possible precautions, but he realizes that this is not necessarily enough for some customers.
This was the second ban on indoor dining during the pandemic so far. Between March 16 and September 8, there was no indoor table. City officials then allowed restaurants to open with a 25% capacity, then raising the limit to 50% on October 2 before the last ban went into effect on November 20.
Pennsylvania restaurants outside of Philadelphia reopened limited-capacity indoor dining on Jan. 4.
Restaurants must go through a self-certification process to reach a capacity of 50%, otherwise they are limited to 25%.
Philadelphia also allows other “riskier” settings and activities to resume on Saturday. Theaters and performance spaces are allowed to reopen with a ceiling for the total number of participants, including staff, of 10% maximum occupancy. If the maximum occupancy is unknown, allow 10 people per 1,000 square meters. All present must be masked and food or drink is not allowed.
Colleges are now allowed to resume classes in person.
Philadelphia, along with the rest of the state, reopened less risky settings, such as museums, gyms and casinos, on January 4th.
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