How are restaurants and bars reacting to new restrictions?
Earlier last week, Governor Walz signed an executive order placing new restrictions on restaurants and bars. The executive order limits the number of people allowed at social gatherings and forces bars and restaurants to close early. Restaurants and bars can also only sit 150 people or 50 percent of fire code capacity; whichever is lower.
As reported by the Star Tribune, restaurants are already taking measures to comply with the new rules. But some of these measures will hurt the economy, and businesses fear for the future of the hospitality industry
“I just suggested three of my bartenders take a leave and be on unemployment,” said Justin Sutherland, whose restaurant Handsome Hog in St. Paul features a 60-seat bar that must now stay vacant.
Dozens of restaurants and bars have closed permanently this year, with scores of employees furloughed or laid off. Many operators were already bracing for the winter, when patios can’t make up for indoor dining. For some of them, the new rules foreshadow more bad news to come.
“I will say we’re terrified,” said Rob Germinaro, general manager at Alary’s Bar in St. Paul. “It’s not just for me. It’s for my staff and for the industry as a whole. You’re going to see small single-ownership operations struggle and close forever.”
Hospitality Minnesota has already warned of potential closures due to new measures.
Hospitality Minnesota, a lobbying group, said half of the state’s hospitality businesses could permanently close in the coming months, even though only a “small fraction of cases” are coming from restaurants and bars.
“While we appreciate that the governor is not shutting down restaurants, bars and events as some other states are doing, we are concerned about the economic and jobs impact on these businesses,” Hospitality Minnesota President Liz Rammer said in a statement.
Robb Jones, co-owner of Meteor Bar in north Minneapolis, struggled Tuesday to process the news about the curfew. The bar is an industry favorite that draws staffers from restaurants stopping in after their shifts. More than a third of its business comes after 10 p.m.
“I think what we’re upset about is mostly the fact that we were doing everything the right way,” Jones said. “We’ve been doing this for months now and none of us has gotten sick.”
Restaurants and bars have faced plenty of uncertainty throughout the pandemic, which has already been destrutive.
Shutdowns have been introduced randomly, and then extended. Similarly, restrictive capacity limits have been arbitrarily introduced at every turning point, forcing restaurants and bars to spend money extending patio season, for instance.
If reactions from businesses are any indication, Minnesotans should not expect any different results from new rules. Like prior restrictions, new rules will reduce business, while also introducing uncertainly, putting a damper on future business plans.