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Updated: June 5, 2020

Restaurants to Lamont: Now or never for indoor dining

HBJ Photo | Joe Cooper Bear's Smokehouse BBQ in downtown Harford is among the restaurants participating in the state tourism office's "Drinks Are On Us" promotion.
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

The Connecticut Restaurant Association on Wednesday sent a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont asking him to allow indoor dining to resume on June 10, ten days earlier than the current plan.

Lamont in mid-March ordered non-essential businesses, including restaurants, to close due to the threat of coronavirus spreading among the population. State restaurants have been allowed to provide takeout service, and as of May 20, they were permitted to offer outdoor dining. Indoor dining remains prohibited, although Lamont is expected to lift this restriction around June 20.

Scott Dolch, association executive director, said he put out a call for restaurants to sign up to have their names included on the letter, and more than 550 restaurants responded within a 24-hour period.

Dolch noted that the association’s proposed June 10 date is a full three weeks after outdoor dining began and 86 days since restaurants were forced to shut their dining rooms.

Scott Dolch, Executive Director, Connecticut Restaurant Association

“Just about every restaurant in the state is teetering on the edge of financial hardship, and we need to do everything possible to keep them afloat,” Dolch said. 

The restaurants that signed on to the letter are from all over the state. Amarone in Guilford, Amici Tavern in North Haven, Eli’s Tavern in Milford and 116 Crown in New Haven are just a sample of those in the area urging the governor to let them open their dining rooms sooner.

The association also had asked the administration in mid-May to be allowed to reopen for indoor dining by June 3, without success.

“Unfortunately, this [June 3] date will not become a reality for more than 8,500 restaurants and over 160,000 food-service employees, as your administration continues to hold firm on June 20,” the latest letter to Lamont states.

Dolch asserted that without an earlier date, more restaurants will fail. 

“This is not hyperbole,” Dolch said, pointing to the recently announced closure of Firebox Restaurant in Hartford after 13 years in operation. 

“They simply could not hold out any longer,” Dolch told Lamont in the letter. “Right now, every day counts for our industry. Opening indoor service before the 20th will mean the difference for other restaurants, for their employees, and for our economy. As our Governor, you have an opportunity to do what is right for our industry and help put us on a better path towards recovery.”

Thousands of workers in the industry have been furloughed or laid off, and millions of dollars in revenue has been lost, according to Dolch.

“This will be a long road to recovery, and some restaurants won’t make it,” Dolch said.

He also noted how not every restaurant has outdoor space to provide the currently allowed outdoor dining.

The restaurant community also has an issue with June 20 because it is a Saturday and Father’s Day weekend, typically a very busy time for restaurants. Most owners prefer to reopen mid-week to have a “soft” reopening to have ample time to prepare, according to Dolch.

The letter’s signees point to Connecticut’s lower COVID-19 statistics in comparison to neighboring states like New York and Massachusetts, as another reason why indoor dining can safely begin here sooner.  Dolch noted that Rhode Island has already opened its doors for indoor restaurant service. 

As of Thursday at noon, Dolch hadn’t heard back from Lamont directly, but his staff had responded to indicate that his office will follow up to discuss the issue.

David Bednarz, a spokesman for Lamont’s office, said via email early Friday (June 5) that Phase 2 of Connecticut’s reopening efforts, which includes indoor dining, begins on Wednesday, June 17.
 

This story has been updated to include comment from David Bednarz.

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