I went out to dinner last night. In a city.
The capacity was about 2/3 of what it used to be.
But the place was packed. The waitress almost wept when we talked to her about how nice it was to be out, and see it “busy.”
Its not that difficult, Chicago. Just follow normal hygiene rules that most places are supposed to follow.
The problem is that the business models are all based on packing people in like sardines. THAT is going to have to change—and that will only happen when rents come down and overhead is not as onerous.
Being able to sit at a table without having the table next to you practically in your lap was pretty nice.
When all this BS started - remember only 2-weeks to “flatten the curve!”, many restaurants were able to ride it out with take-out orders - even those places that never offered takeout shifted gears to make it work.
Then 2 weeks became 4 weeks. Then 6. Then 2 months.....now going on 6 months! A few months back, his excellency generalissimo Cuomo (D-Gambino) generously “allowed” his subjects to reopen their restaurants for outdoor dining and indoor at reduced capacity with expensive conditions.
Up here in rural western NY (with statistically insignificant infection rates), many restaurants set-up outdoor seating areas. They can probably muddle thru a bit longer. But outdoor dining season up here pretty much ends next
month.
If these places cannot get back to normal operations this winter they’re doomed. They simply cannot survive this bullshit any longer.
Rents will decrease when property taxes decrease....never