Restaurants across Arizona will be allowed to resume dine-in service Monday, but the experience will be far from normal.
Trent Crump’s family owns several restaurants in the Phoenix area, including Hanny’s downtown. He says they’ll be implementing sanitation and social distancing protocols in their restaurants once the public is welcomed back in.
"I think you'll see a lot fewer crowds, I think you’ll see a lot of precautions, disinfecting tabletops, chairs, and booths as they change hands," Crump said. "So everything from barriers to floor markings to those types of things, I think that people can expect to see that."
Chances are you’ll scan a QR code on your phone to access the menu — or read a disposable paper menu.
In some restaurants, you’ll get your food directly off a tray brought to the table by the server — who will almost certainly be wearing a mask and have had their temperature taken before and during their shift.
Tables will be staggered at least 6 feet apart, and many places will limit parties to eight or less.
It’s unknown how many of these changes will be permanent, and what will be relaxed as infection and transmission rates decline. But as long as these restrictions are in place, and many customers are anxious about the safety of returning, restaurants will still struggle financially.
Under the new guidelines, restaurants should operate at no more than half capacity. Which means half as many customers, half as much revenue, and half as much tip money — if customers feel comfortable returning at all.
Crump says the paycheck protection program gives them a little bit of time — but the next few months are critical.
“Part of our current PPP funds are still in effect, and still have those running for a couple more weeks, so you have a little bit of a cushion," Crump said. "Here in Arizona we’ll have to see what June and July and August hold for us here.”
Crump says most of his employees are excited to return to work — but work will look quite different for the foreseeable future.
