In an effort to help local restaurants bounce back as quickly as possible, City officials are developing a plan that includes partially closing streets of downtown Owensboro to allow more outdoor dining until a larger capacity of customer can be served inside.
Starting May 22, restaurants across the Commonwealth can allow up to 33 percent capacity in their dining rooms, while outdoor seating will be unlimited as long as they have the space to do so while still following distancing guidelines.
Mayor Tom Watson said Thursday the City was working on its own plan for downtown restaurants, with hopes it will give them the ability bring in more revenue.
However, Watson also said he believes the reopening of restaurants and businesses will be largely consumer-driven.
“We can make all the recommendations and all the rules we want to make, but if the consumer is not comfortable coming into an establishment, then it really doesn’t matter if you’re doing all the things you’re supposed to do,” he said.
Using Colby’s Fine Food & Spirits as an example, Watson said the City may allow the restaurant to secure additional outdoor dining space by roping off part of a City street.
“With social distancing, if they can’t accommodate the 33 percent [capacity], we’re going to allow them to maybe move out into the street with some tables,” he said. “Again, it’s going to be consumer-driven. Some people won’t like to have their server serving with a mask and gloves on, and some people won’t go if they don’t have a mask and gloves on.”
Watson said he hoped this plan would come to fruition around the same time restaurants are able to reopen.
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