Area restaurants got a boost Tuesday when Gov. Tom Wolf announced they could increase indoor occupancy to 50%, effective Sept. 21.

Wilson Gonzalez, owner of Sapore Restaurant in Lehighton, said any help his business can receive is appreciated.

Gonzalez said that while his business is doing OK, the fact that people can’t sit at the bar, and can only sit at a few of the high top tables, has hurt his operations tremendously.

“People get upset; they see all these empty tables,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of people understand, but some people get upset.

“That’s when we get hurt, because they don’t want to wait. The challenge is learning how to deal with every situation.”

Still, Gonzalez said it’s been difficult working with the 25% indoor occupancy that’s been in effect since July.

“We are losing business,” he said. “When we go back to 50 percent, that will help us a lot, and that will help our staff.”

Paola Basile, owner of Basile’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Tamaqua, was happy about the announcement.

“I definitely think it’s a good thing, because it’s obviously more business,” Basile said. “I don’t think Pennsylvania is that out of control with cases.”

Despite having had to operate at 25% capacity, Basile said her business has managed to survive.

“We have a big enough restaurant that even with 25 percent, we weren’t that bad; we were still doing our normal business,” she said.

It will definitely help with banquets because we’ve been limited with what we can do with showers and funerals; now people will be able to dine together, and it won’t be as hard on our staff as it was.”

Basile said for the most part, her staffing “hasn’t been really affected that much.”

“We have a big deck (for outdoor seating); since we put it on, this is the first year we got any use of it,” she said. “That’s good because people know it’s there.”

Basile explained what she believes to be the biggest advantage to the 50% occupancy.

“Just the amount of people that can come in, because we do quick turnovers,” she said. “Even with food ordering; this business is so unpredictable, you really don’t know how much to order.”

The rules

Restaurants must commit to strictly complying to all public health safety guidelines and orders through a self-certification process.

Any restaurant that wishes to increase to 50 percent indoor capacity on Sept. 21 must complete the online self-certification process by Oct. 5. Business owners should keep a copy of the self-certification confirmation they will receive by email. Social distancing, masking and other mitigation measures must be employed to protect workers and patrons.

Alcohol sales

Starting Sept. 21, restaurants that have alcohol sales will close alcohol sales at 10 p.m. Health secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the state wants to keep young people from congregating at bars. Bars have been closed at restaurants for several months.

This hurts Gonzalez. “That’s one of the main things that we need,” he said. “We have to follow the rules.”

At this point, Gonzalez said he’s just grateful more customers will be able to be seated indoors.

“Anything will help right now,” he said. “(Especially) if we do go back to 50 percent and we can serve at the bar.”

Gonzalez expressed his gratitude to all his customers.

“I have to say thanks to all the customers because they’re being loyal to us and they’re supporting us; I’d like to say thank you to them,” he said. “We are still open because a lot of our locals, they were still taking food out, just because they want to be loyal to us, that I really appreciate.”

Gonzalez also complimented his staff.

“My staff have been really helpful when I need it, but I wish I could do more for them but I do the best I can for them,” he said. “I really appreciate it.”

More help needed

John Longstreet, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, said that while the organization appreciates Wolf’s step to return restaurant operations to 50% occupancy, “the PRLA feels that this adjusted mandate will not properly restore our industry to the standards that were in place before July 15.

“In addition to restaurants current requirements for Pennsylvania’s mitigation standards, (Tuesday’s) order now requires certification to affirm the safety standards already in place. While the governor cites Connecticut as the model, that state’s self-certification requires all businesses, including grocery, retail and big box stores, as well as restaurants and bars, to self-certify. In Pennsylvania, only the restaurants and bars are required to self-certify to reach 50% occupancy, while no such action is required of any other business. This is an undue burden on an industry struggling for survival.”

He said the order adds more restrictions for owners who have consistently tried to comply all along.

“The return to 50% occupancy is welcome news to the industry. It’s something we’ve asked for repeatedly since July 15, but it is a hollow win when other mitigation standards are added. Furthermore, the nearly two-week delay prior to implementation is two more weeks restaurants must struggle to operate under the unsustainable 25% occupancy restriction.”