SANFORD – The Monday reopening for many restaurants and shops also means getting employees back to work too.
The reopening can’t get come fast enough for many restaurants and retail stores.
As part of Phase 1 in Florida, many retail stores and restaurants are allowed to reopen Monday, but only for outdoor seating and at 25% dine-in capacity.
David Morales, owner of Fuzzy’s Tacos in Altamonte Springs, says he is ready despite the restrictions.
“We’re excited, but we want to be safe for everybody,” Morales said.
Morales said he’s going to have a person right outside the door so he can control capacity and tables will be six feet from each other.
And though he’s he happy to reopen, he’s treating Monday as sort of a dress rehearsal for an even bigger Tuesday, which is Cinco de Mayo.
But he admits the new state mandates will leave his restaurant seeing a 60% reduction that day.
“Usually we have a big block party and we get 2,500 people, but this year is completely different,” he said.
At Hollerbach’s restaurant in downtown Sanford, workers on Sunday were getting chairs and tables in place to reopen after being closed inside for weeks.
“One crew takes order and delivers food to the tables and we have a totally separate crew that cleans and takes things away from the table ‚” said Theo Hollerbach, the restaurant’s owner.
For restaurants like Hollerbach’s in Seminole County, workers now are getting ready for Phase 1 of reopening inside and told us safety is the key.
“The staff have masks, gloves (and) we have thermometers,” he said.
Hollerbach said before his restaurant closed due to COVID-19, he was adding the building and will soon be able to unveil his new rooftop.
Hollerbach is all for reopening, but wants to make sure he’s doing so safely.
“We don’t want to contribute anymore than anyone else does,” he said.