If you didn’t hear it directly from the governor, we’ve got real heart emoji material for you.
While it’s not the complete return to normalcy that we’re waiting for in the industry, Governor Andrew Cuomo did show some love for NYC restaurants last week when he announced Friday, Feb. 12, as the target date for indoor dining to make a comeback—at 25 percent capacity.
"New York City restaurants, on our current trajectory, can reopen indoor dining at 25 percent on Valentine’s Day," Cuomo said in a statement, revealing that the decision to reopen was spurred on by a reported decline in cases and hospitalizations in NYC. "The restaurants want a period of time so they can notify workers, they can get up to speed for indoor dining, order supplies, etcetera."
Update on indoor dining in NYC:
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 29, 2021
If positivity rates hold we will reopen indoor dining at 25% capacity on Valentine's Day - February 14.
In addition to reduced capacity, mandatory safety guidelines will be in place.
The announcement means that establishments can welcome a limited number of guests into their eateries and restaurants on one of the biggest “nights out” of the year. What’s more, Cuomo also announced that event venues will be allowed to host events up to 150 people by March 15.
Contact Your Sam Tell Sales Rep To Ensure All Of The Pieces Are In Place For A Successful Return To Indoor Dining, At Any Capacity!
For your restaurant to successfully welcome any number of guests back into a dine-in setting, there are certain steps you need to take. With Valentine’s Day closing in, these actions need to take place ASAP. To help you set the table for indoor dining, we’ve created a Reopening Checklist. Follow this checklist along, step by step, to ensure your waitstaff, kitchen, and restaurant is equipped with the necessary supplies and knowledge to safely serve in-house guests!
Sam Tell Reopening Checklist
PHASE 1
- Take inventory of smallwares and place orders for items that may have lead times, such as china, glassware, flatware, and any specialty serveware or cookware.
- Post job listings for openings, including cooks, servers, bartenders, and porters.
PHASE 2
- Finalize menu (if changes have been made).
- Finish hiring all employees, finalize staffing and shift schedules.
PHASE 3
- Share news of your reopening on social media and develop a strategy to advertise.
- Purchase sanitation supplies including soaps and chemicals, refrigerator and freezer thermometers, signage (handwashing, social distancing, etc.), and hand sanitizer. Click here to browse our sanitation supplies!
- Onboard staff, including training on safety and sanitation protocol.
PHASE 4
- Order disposable supplies and perishables. Click here to browse our disposable supplies and perishables!
PHASE 5
- Consider a soft opening for friends and family to ensure all procedures are in place.
