Last week, they finally got a chance to return to normal, after the governor issued an executive order to lift the state’s mask mandate and allow companies to reopen at 100% capacity.
As varied as the approaches were their experiences over the weekend, the first without any Covid-19 corporate limits – some saw the business improve, others said things remained much the same. One of these was the target of racist vandalism.
Here’s what some Texas companies told CNN about their first weekend since the restrictions were lifted.
Mike Nguyen, San Antonio
Sunday morning, Mike Nguyen discovered that his San Antonio restaurant, Noodle Tree, had been trashed with racist reports after appearing in local news outlets and on CNN to criticize the decision to lift the mask mandate.
“Kung flu,” “go back 2 China,” and “hope you die,” were written in red spray paint, according to photos he shared with CNN. (CNN has contacted San Antonio Police for comment on the incident).
“To be honest, it’s a piece of cloth that goes over your face,” he said. “I don’t understand why they went this far, but I think they wanted to send a message that masks are ridiculous or whatever.”
But aside from the vandalism, Nguyen said the weekend went well. He chose to keep demanding masks for customers unless they are seated at their table. And he’s capped his dining room at about 60% to 70%, instead of reopening it completely.
Before the restaurant was destroyed, Noodle Tree doubled its sales compared to last weekend, said Nguyen, calling it one of the restaurant’s “ busiest weekends. ” He could not say whether the increase was due to the removal of restrictions or community support.
Nguyen said that whoever trashed his restaurant does not represent Texans and they do not represent San Antonians. On Sunday, Nguyen told CNN that people had been reaching out to the company all morning to help clean up.
“I am very humble,” he said. ‘But it doesn’t surprise me. This is what we do as Texans, this is what we do as San Antonians – we help each other. ‘
He said that was also evident from the fact that many Texans still wear masks, despite the relaxed restrictions.
“It kind of shows you that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and we can go back to what we used to be,” he said. “That’s encouraging.”
“I just hope we don’t get worse,” he added.
Lisa Dickinson, Fort Worth
Lisa Dickinson, the manager of a Fort Worth store called Parts Unknown, said business was great this weekend. On Saturday, the store even surpassed the company that had done it at the same time in 2019, she said. “It was a really good day.”
The store does not require masks from its customers, Dickinson said, a decision made by the headquarters. But most of the customers who came in this weekend were wearing masks anyway, she said.
“No one was mad at those who didn’t and no one was mad at those who did,” she said. “Everyone minded their own business and had a good time.”
A number of clients were between the ages of 50 and 70 this weekend, Dickinson said, telling her that they had “ been in their homes for the past year because of the pandemic. ”
“They felt comfortable getting out,” she said, in some cases because they could have been vaccinated. “This is like the first time they’ve been out there in a while. They chose to come to Fort Worth, they grabbed a hotel, they eat something, they do some shopping. ”
Dickinson said people are smart enough to make their own decisions about wearing the masks. But she acknowledged that the pandemic is not over and said she hoped people would be “sensible” and not come together in large groups.
“ But after what I’ve seen this weekend, the good people of Texas respect … they respect what to do, and I don’t think we need to be told what to do or hide in our homes, ” said they. “So I have a lot of hope for the future.”
Nicola Blaque, San Antonio
Chef Nicola Blaque owns two restaurants in San Antonio. One of them, Mi Roti, who she opened during the pandemic, is in a San Antonio dining room and the property manages the Covid-19 restrictions there. That does not mean indoor food and masks for everyone.
Despite the restrictions, Saturday’s business was “really good,” Blaque told CNN.
“The restrictions in that restaurant are very strict,” she said, “and we didn’t have any backlash or anyone breaking the rules.”
As for her other restaurant, The Jerk Shack, things were much the same this weekend as during the pandemic. Although the restaurant does dine al fresco, Blaque has continued to take out and still encourages social distance.
But on the orders of the governor, Blaque decided to give customers the choice of wearing masks at The Jerk Shack – a decision that earned her a few one-star reviews from customers who were upset that she didn’t need them.
Blaque said that decision was primarily for the safety of her employees. She didn’t want to put them in a position where they might have to force masks on customers who didn’t cooperate.
“I’m a minority, so 2020 was not the easiest for black restaurants,” she said. “It wasn’t just the pandemic that happened, but other things that affected our business. So we just had to make the right decisions so that we didn’t get so much backlash and so much tension.”
In the past, they have been the target of racist insults and threats, Blaque said. Someone once drove out the windows of her food truck in front of her restaurant.
“Even the thought or threat of violence – it’s not worth the safety of my employees,” she said.
Ryan Lachaine, Houston
For months, Riel’s Houston restaurant staff have been playing by the book when it comes to Covid-19 safety, chef and partner Ryan Lachaine told CNN. The restaurant has been scrubbed so often that the varnish is coming off some of the seats.
But given the first chance in a year to open 100%, Lachaine and his business partners made the difficult decision to stay on track. This weekend, Riel was still working at 50% capacity and masks were still a must, Lachaine said. As a result, the restaurant didn’t see much change.
‘It just continues. It was pretty much a normal Friday and Saturday night for us, ”he said on Sunday, explaining that the restaurant, with limited occupancy, was as busy as it could be.
Lachaine likened running the restaurant to tightrope walking, balancing the desire to generate income with prioritizing the safety of his employees.
“In my opinion, you can’t have one without the other,” he said. “If I don’t have staff because they are sick or afraid to go to work, I can’t produce food for people to come in. If I don’t have customers eating, I can’t pay my staff.”
As much as Lachaine would like to return, he said he would like to wait for his employees to be fully vaccinated.
“That’s my first requirement,” he said.
Arnaldo Richards, Houston
After 12 months at a loss, Arnaldo Richards, executive chef and owner of Pico’s Restaurant in Houston, said “things were incredible” this weekend.
“People came in and said, I saw this on social media or I saw this thing on TV and we’re here to support you,” he said. Richards has also not reopened his dining room to 100% capacity, staying at around 70%. At that level, he can still safely keep customers at a social distance, he said.
When the governor announced his order, Richards said he was initially excited and thought about how it would boost the economy. But he chose to keep his employees, customers and community safe by maintaining the restrictions.
Overall, Richards said he was optimistic about the future based on how members of the community have responded since Abbott’s order took effect. “(It) really doesn’t make people go out and be irresponsible,” he said.
“The governor said we could make the choice,” he said, “but it’s up to the community, it’s up to the individual, it’s up to the company to be responsible. Because after 12 months you have to know how to manage yourself. to protect.”
CNN’s Danielle Wiener-Bronner contributed to this report.