Reopening a restaurant during Coronavirus

Main Authority Guidance & Resource links: 
  • Food and Drug Administration FDA Guidance
  • The Center for Disease Control CDC  Guidance
  • The World Health Organization WHO  Guidance 
  • The National Restaurant Association NRA  Guidance
  • The James Beard Foundation  Guidance
  • Restaurant.org PDF guidance

The CDC offers this guidance as it pertains to the front of your restaurant:

  • Install physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, particularly in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart. Barriers can be useful in restaurant kitchens and at cash registers, host stands, or food pickup areas where maintaining physical distance of at least 6 feet is difficult.
  • Change restaurant and bar layouts to ensure that all customer parties remain at least 6 feet apart (e.g., marking tables/stools that are not for use).
  • Limit seating capacity to allow for social distancing.
  • Prioritize outdoor seating as much as possible.
  • Ask customers to wait in their cars or away from the establishment while waiting to pick up food or when waiting to be seated. Inform customers of food pickup and dining protocols on the business’ website and on posted signs.
  • Discourage crowded waiting areas by using phone app, text technology, or signs to alert patrons when their table is ready. Avoid using “buzzers” or other shared objects.
  • Consider options for dine-in customers to order ahead of time to limit the amount of time spent in the establishment.'

New York Reopening Plan Article:
Reopening dates:
  • Outdoor dining Opening: 6/22
  • Indoor dining  (50% capacity): 7/6 

MAIN RULES: 

  • All tables must be 6 feet apart on all sides, Max 10 people per table.
  • Where 6 feet distancing is not feasible between the table must use a physical barrier.
  • Physical Barrier must be 5 feet tall and not block emergency exits (ex. acrylic guards)
  • indoor capacity is limited to no more than 50% of the maximum occupancy

Expected guidance on Open-streets outdoor dining expansion of seating:

Curbside seating 

  • Restaurants in "commercial corridors" will be able to convert parking spaces for the dining service. 
  • Restaurants need to supply their own barricades and planters (buy here) to block the area from the road. 
  • The city will allow restaurants to register and certify themselves online to expedite the process, but they must comply with guidelines like not blocking bus stops, fire hydrants, and intersections. 

Open streets

  • New York City has opened over 45 miles of streets to pedestrians, closing them to traffic, and plans to open 100 miles of roads across the city. 
  • Restaurants will be able to utilize the street space in front of their locations. 
  • The city is also working to identify specific streets with a heavy concentration of restaurants and bars as it opens more streets. 

Sidewalks 

  • The city is simplifying the permit process for restaurants to use sidewalks for seating
  • Restaurants will still need to maintain space on sidewalks for pedestrians, including those with disabilities.

Restaurant Booth Dividers

Making the customer feel safe  is the most important thing you can do right now to keep them coming back. Our Restaurant Booth and Room dividers is a perfect barrier for separating in areas where people cannot be 6 feet apart inside. These dividers are an economical solution to the problem that may go on unfortunately for a long time, it would be better to be prepared. 

Outdoor Furniture

Many states have imposed restrictions on indoor capacity, but some cities are loosening outdoor dining restrictions and even closing off streets to allow restaurants to use that space for Outdoor Restaurant Furniture. We have a wide range of outdoor restaurant furniture that is perfect to take advantage of these opportunities to make up for lost indoor capacity. Our furniture experts can help you find the outdoor restaurant furniture that fits your needs.

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