What lies beyond the pandemic? MassForward is MassLive’s series examining the journey of Massachusetts’ businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
________________
The first day of Phase 2 of the Massachusetts reopening plan resulted in mixed reactions with confusion over the new application for alcohol licenses and capacity for outside dining.
Springfield’s City Law Department sent the Business Improvement District the applications, who then forwarded it to restaurants and bars to serve alcohol outside on Friday. However, some confusion over the license has Nadim Kashouh waiting until Tuesday to open for service.
Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant & Grill in Downtown Springfield already had a license to serve outside but failed to apply for the new application in time to open Monday.
“I’m going to use the word upset. Over the past week, we have been working on scheduling. Bringing more food and getting a set up ready to come back after the weekend. We lined up the tables, did a kind of test run to see how everything is going to line up,” said Kashouh, on Monday. “I get a phone call from the city this morning saying that you cannot open, there’s a permit that you need to apply for and you cannot open them unless it is submitted and approved and it might take up to 10 days."
“Keep in mind,” said Kashouh. “I am permitted to serve out here," he said, of his outdoor seating which is popular during the summer months. "So, there is no reason to shut me down and you have to already have the permits to serve alcohol.”
Usually, the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission issues permits for businesses to sell and serve alcohol outside which could take from two to three months to get approved. As well as only allowing restaurants that already have outdoor seating to be approved to serve outside.
The city has been looking for ways to allow restaurants to expand outside amid the need for decreased restaurant capacity and social distancing.
Nadim Kashouh outside Nadim's Mediterranean Restaurant & Grill in the area that he was hoping would have customers. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)
Four restaurants had filed for outdoor dining licenses as of early Monday afternoon, said Alesia Days, the city’s director of licensing.
“I think it’s awesome,” Days said in an interview with the Republican. "We know that restaurants have suffered immensely and pouring establishments have suffered immensely. While we want to make sure these businesses get up and running, we want to make sure it’s done safely. Safe is more important than quick from my perspective.”
All restaurants, even those that were previously approved for outdoor dining, need the new licenses to ensure they are COVID-19 ready, Days said. The restaurants must show the layout of tables and that there is proper distancing, as well as the locations of hand sanitizing stations, and barriers where needed, among other safeguards, she said.
Robert Gossman, the majority owner of Nathan Bill’s sitting near the outside dining area. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)
Across the city, another restaurant had opened its outside area to the new normal. Nathan Bill’s had set up space for roughly 75 people to come and dine outside with plans to expand into the parking lot.
Robert Gossman, the majority owner of Nathan Bill’s told MassLive that with the new safety measures, his restaurant is only able to 20% of the pre-pandemic capacity.
Pre-pandemic, Nathan Bill’s can house up to 350 patrons, now Gossman says that is down to roughly 70 with the outside dining.
“It's going to be impossible to pay overhead at 20% capacity if it lasts too much longer. I mean, we lost about a thousand dollars a day during COVID,” said Gossman. “We stayed open and we kept all our employees’ essential employees at their regular pay and then actually gave them bonuses.”
The bonuses were not only to keep his staff working when the $600 stimulus added on top of unemployment would have paid more than they were earning at the restaurant. But also, as a form of hazard pay.
(Left to Right) Brianna Goldrick, Remi Goldrick and Aleasha Ferreira are waiting staff at Nathan Bill's. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)
There are plans for Worthington Street and Fort Street to be closed off to traffic and temporarily pedestrianized to expand their outdoor seating and promote social distancing amid the pandemic. However, this has not been finalized, according to Chris Russell, executive director of Springfield’s Business Improvement District.
“It will be a streamlined application because typically, you have to go to planning or zoning first and then the Liquor Commission,” said Russell. “The city’s going to do that as a one-stop shop. They’re going to waive all fees for that so people can amend their licenses to serve, not just food but alcohol in outdoor places.”
MassForward is MassLive's series examining the journey of Massachusetts' small businesses through and beyond the coronavirus pandemic.
Related Content:
"popular" - Google News
June 09, 2020 at 06:33PM
https://ift.tt/2UnvpiU
Permitting requirements in Massachusetts reopening plan delays popular Springfield restaurant - MassLive.com
"popular" - Google News
https://ift.tt/33ETcgo
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Permitting requirements in Massachusetts reopening plan delays popular Springfield restaurant - MassLive.com"
Posting Komentar