CLEVELAND — It’s a big day for Ohio businesses. Restaurants and bars, which have been closed to all but carryout and delivery services since March, will be allowed to open their patios Friday.
But they’re not the only ones. Personal services including hair salons day spas, nail salons, barbershops, massage therapists, tattoo parlors and body-piercing shops can also open Friday.
But not all restaurants are jumping on the greenlight to reopen. Douglas Katz is the executive Chef and owner of Zhug in Cleveland Heights and Fire at Shaker Square among other places. Right now he’s doing takeout and delivery at Zhug, and he says he will not be reopening his dining rooms anytime soon.
"My feeling is that we need to have really great information out there and and we need to be prepared for the guests when they really want to come back,” said Katz.
Over at Parallax in Tremont and others in the area, Executive Chef Zack Bruell said he’s responsible for getting 250 people back to work.
Bruell says he’s very aware of what he’s getting into. He says it may not be worth it for him to reopen, but he’s willing to take the chance
"If we can break even once we open, we’ve succeeded so that’s the goal,” said Bruell.
New protocols for restaurants and bars include:
"So restaurants and bars are going to be asked to create a floor plan that complies with current social distancing guidelines, for example, under the current mandate," said Treva Weaver COO of The Wasserstrom Company and Owner of Zoup! Eatery, part of the working group tasked with creating protocols for restaurants and bars. "There are parties of 10 or less that would be seated together, and then each party is then going to be separated by either six feet, or physical barrier."
- Restaurants and bars will be asked to create a floor plan that allows for social distancing.
- Customers may be asked to wait in their cars instead of waiting areas or lines, Weaver said, "or there might be a designated area now for queuing."
- Buffets and salad bars will now be served to customers, instead of self-service. There will also be six-foot guidelines on lines for buffets.
- Entryways will have information about COVID-19 symptoms.
"We’re asking the public to self-monitor and ensure compliance before they come in," Weaver said.
- Employees will be required to wear masks in certain positions, with exemptions, such as some back-of-house staff, and cooks standing over a hot grill, for example.
- Gloves will not be required for all employees.
Weaver said they are recommending restaurants follow existing Food Safety Code guidelines regarding gloves.
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