NC restaurants, bars could reopen at 50% capacity this week, trade group says
Updated: Gov. Roy Cooper announced the beginning of Phase Two, which allows restaurants to reopen at 50% capacity but does not allow bars to reopen.
North Carolina could allow restaurants and bars to reopen this weekend after being closed for more than two months.
The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association emailed its members Tuesday afternoon, saying that under Gov. Roy Cooper’s opening plan, restaurants and bars will be allowed to offer dine-in service at 50% capacity.
“We’ve been in daily communication with the governor’s office and the Department of Health and Human Services,” NCRLA executive director Lynn Minges said in a phone interview. “It’s a relief in that we know what to expect and plan for. We know that it won’t be business as usual, restaurants won’t be as crowded, guests will see booths empty, but I think it’s going to feel great.”
The “Interim Guidelines for Restaurants” N.C. Department of Health and Human Services document shared by the restaurant association is dated May 22.
The guidelines require restaurants that reopen to keep their capacity at 50% or less of any fire code limit for the space. If there’s no fire code limit, restaurants and bars can have 12 people per 1,000 square feet of space.
Social distancing is still required in dining rooms and tables must be arranged to allow at least six feet between people. The state recommends restaurants limit parties to six or fewer people and discourages communal seating.
Restaurants offering takeout
Reopening restaurants is a significant marker in North Carolina’s handling of the coronavirus. The state closed bars and dining rooms on March 17, mirroring similar efforts by states nationwide to lessen the spread of the virus. The shutdown has forced the industry to make do on takeout and retail sales and has already led to some closings.
Cooper moved the state into Phase One of its reopening on May 8, allowing retail businesses to reopen, as well as state and local parks.
Since late April, state officials suggested May 22 could be the Phase 2 reopening date for bars and restaurants if certain coronavirus benchmarks were met, such as a decreasing or flattened case counts and hospitalizations.
In a news briefing Tuesday, DHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said the state was meeting those benchmarks and that she expected North Carolina to move into Phase Two “at the end of this week.”
Minges said she’s pleased North Carolina has reached the point of reopening restaurants, but said the industry’s struggles remain.
“It should be a celebratory day, we’re one step closer, but restaurants will not be profitable for some time,” Minges said. “Most restaurants I’ve talked to are excited and looking forward to getting their teams back together. At the same time, we know many will not open immediately. Restaurants are not designed to operate at half capacity.”
Some states have passed temporary legislation aimed at offering bars and restaurants a few lifelines as the industry faces months of uncertain business.
Expanded outside seating possible
Minges said the NCRLA will push for expanded outdoor seating into parking lots and sidewalks, as some state have done, as well as renew an attempt for bars to sell mixed drinks to go, which was removed from a relief package passed by the General Assembly earlier this month.
“We know there’s great interest in (expanding outdoor seating),” Minges said. “We feel optimistic North Carolina will be able to offer that soon.”
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 6:33 PM with the headline "NC restaurants, bars could reopen at 50% capacity this week, trade group says."
