Ian Bacheikov and Alicia Bhambhani co-authored an article for Modern Restaurant Management offering guidance to restaurants reopening as stay-at-home orders are lifted. Specifically, Bacheikov and Bhambhani walk restaurant operators and managers through the considerations of expanding dining options to the outdoors.
“With the outbreak of COVID-19 and the Center for Disease Control issuing considerations for restaurants and bars that state the risk of spreading the virus is lower for outdoor seating than indoor seating, the idea of allowing businesses, such as restaurants and bars, to expand into outdoor areas has gained traction as a lower risk option for jump starting these and other non-essential businesses that are starting to reopen as stay-at-home orders are being lifted, notwithstanding the fact that the virus is still out there with no proven treatment or cure available yet.”
“Some municipalities are already starting temporary pilot programs to allow restaurants to utilize additional outdoor space, including expanding seating areas onto public rights-of-way or on private property, but there are several concerns that both the restaurants and local governments need to take into consideration when looking into these programs. For instance, going back to the Florida example, the State is now firmly into its summer storm season when scattered storms and the summer heat can make outdoor seating a bit more difficult, if not potentially unbearable without shade. As there will likely be periods of time when the weather will make outdoor spaces unusable, maximizing the use of these spaces during the times it is useable is crucial to the success of participating businesses.”