The hard-hit industry has been restricted to outdoor dining and takeout.
New York City restaurants can once again serve customers indoors starting Feb. 14.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a press conference on Friday that restaurants in New York City “can reopen indoor dining at 25% on Valentine’s Day.”
“25% is better than zero,” he said. “If the numbers continue to get better, then we will continue to increase that.”
He said that “the restaurants want a period of time” to prepare for reopening in order to hire back staff, plan menus, get orders in, etc.
“You could make a reservation now or plan dinner — you propose on Valentine’s Day — you have the wedding ceremony up to 150 people,” he said as he continued to unveil his plans for reopening.
The good news came on the 335th day of the ongoing pandemic as positive cases hit the lowest point since Dec. 11
Earlier this week Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said he was looking forward to hearing Cuomo’s plan to reopen indoor dining.
“It’s paramount these decisions are based on data. And, because New York City has lower infection and hospitalization rates than nearly all counties in the rest of the state where indoor dining is open at 50% occupancy, our city’s restaurants must be treated equitably and reopened safely,” Rigie explained. “Highly regulated, limited occupancy indoor dining has been a minor factor for virus transmission and full shutdowns have exacerbated the current economic crisis, which has permanently shuttered thousands of restaurants and bars and put over 140,000 people out of work in our city.”
Timeline of NYC Dining During the Pandemic
– Mid-March 2020: Restaurants start to shut their doors as cases climb.
– March 12, 2020: Restaurants are required to reduce capacity by 50%.
– March 16, 2020: Gov. Cuomo shuts down indoor dining, limiting restaurants to delivery and takeout.
– March 17, 2020: Restaurants are allowed to sell alcohol for delivery and takeout.
– May 28, 2020: New York’s city council introduces a bill to expand outdoor dining.
– June 4, 2020: Mayor Bill de Blasio announces full plans for outdoor dining.
– June 22, 2020: Outdoor dining officially begins at restaurants around the city.
– July 1, 2020: Indoor dining is postponed until further notice.
– July 16, 2020: Three-strike policy implemented for bars and restaurants with violations resulting in loss of an establishment’s liquor license.
– July 27, 2020: New York City council member pushes to make outdoor dining, restaurant relief measures permanent.
– Aug. 28, 2020: New York City restaurants file $2 billion lawsuit amid growing calls for indoor dining plans.
– Sept. 9, 2020: Gov. Cuomo announces plan for restaurants to resume indoor dining at 25% capacity.
– Sept. 25, 2020: Mayor de Blasio makes outdoor dining permanent.
– Oct. 16, 2020: Restaurants are allowed to add a 10% dining surcharge amid the pandemic.
– Nov. 13, 2020: A 10 p.m. curfew is set for all bars and restaurants in New York state.
– Dec. 11, 2020: Gov. Cuomo reinstates an indoor dining ban with no timeframe for return.
– Jan. 29, 2020: Indoor dining is set to resume Feb. 14 at 25% capacity with COVID-19 safety measures.
