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May 14, 2020

Hospitality industry asks Lamont for indoor restaurant service starting June 3

Photo | Contributed A Bertucci’s restaurant.
By Sean Teehan

More than 130 Connecticut business owners and hospitality industry associations signed a letter asking Gov. Ned Lamont to allow restaurants to offer limited indoor service starting June 3.

The letter, written by Connecticut Restaurant Association Executive Director Scott Dolch, asks the Lamont administration to allow restaurants to resume indoor service at 50% capacity beginning June 3, two weeks after they will be allowed to open for outdoor dining service.

Scott Dolch, Executive Director, Connecticut Restaurant Association

"We understand the public health concerns, but you also have to understand the economic impact of every day having to stay closed," Dolch, who has supported following guidance from public health officials, said in an interview Thursday morning. 

Since Lamont ordered restaurants to suspend table service in March, only allowing for curbside and takeout service, restaurants in the state have taken a significant hit, with at least 40 owners saying the shutdown put them out of business for good, Dolch said.

A text message sent to a Lamont spokesman requesting comment wasn't immediately returned.

The governor has taken steps to give restaurants more latitude amid restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lamont's May 20 reopening plan allows restaurants to serve food at tables set up on patios or sidewalks. This week he signed an executive order that empowers towns and cities to expedite zoning changes or ordinances for small businesses seeking to bring their operations outdoors. 

But restaurant owners and industry officials have said the steps aren't enough to keep their businesses afloat 

Andrew Rizzo, managing partner at Hartford Italian restaurant and wine bar Salute, said last week his restaurant wouldn't reopen for outdoor service because it wouldn’t be able to serve enough customers to make it financially viable.

Further, Dolch said, allowing for outdoor service doesn't take into account costs like buying outdoor furniture, and paying staff on days on which weather prevents outdoor service.

[Read more: What eating in a restaurant may look like during the pandemic]

A June 3 indoor-service opening date would give time for restaurants to train employees on heightened hygiene measures required, Dolch said.

The letter notes that other businesses will be able to open for partial indoor service on May 20, and that restaurants can offer a similar level of safety.

“We believe that limited, safe indoor dining is possible,” the letter said. “As malls, hair salons and others are allowed to gradually begin indoor service, as they should be, it makes sense restaurants would also be allowed some limited indoor service.”

The letter outlined other safety measures to which signers committed to enact, including:

  • Limited overall restaurant capacity (50 percent to start) to allow for expanded distance between tables
  • Absolutely no physical contact with staff
  • No standing room or bar seating
  • Added use of gloves and masks
  • More intensive cleaning between customer interactions
  • Implementing new technology for menus and payment to allow for less indirect contact
  • Eliminating shared-use tabletop accompaniments (menus, condiments, etc.)
  • Encouraging older adults and those with preexisting conditions not to dine indoors, and continuing to offer robust takeout and curbside options for all patrons

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