Restaurants Remain Optimistic Despite Rise in Coronavirus Cases

Restaurants are Striving to Keep Customers Safe

The state adding nearly 900 coronavirus cases today... we wanted to see how local restaurants are responding to the increase in new cases.

Waay-31s alexis scott spoke with some managers about their approach to staying open right now... alexis..

Restaurants like the brass tap have patio seating available to customers who want the dine-in feel without feeling crowded... but at phuket in providence...the only seating option is outside.

And the owner told me he plans to keep it that way for the foreseeable future.

Furit phornroekngam, owner of phuket "so far i think we are okay even with just the outside because if you look at our patio, it's a pretty good size," furit phornroekngam is the owner of phuket and as soon as coronavirus hit alabama they closed their dine-in services.... that's now been 3 months ago and he told me it'll stay that way until the pandemic is over.

But not everyone is doing that... harold smith is the general manager of the brass tap ... and he is keeping both dine-in ans patio services open to customers.

Restaurants already operate at 50-percent capacity... and if he cut the size down even more to just outside..

He couldn't afford to keep all of his staff.

Harold smith, the brass tap "we don't want to have to do that to our employees because they suffered for over a month of being unemployed so we really hope we don't have to do that again," smith told me business has been slower since the pandemic started but he's happy to see his customers again.

And though the number of cases keep increasing... he wants people to do take necessary precautions, like social distancing and wearing masks so they wont have to cancel all their summer plans.

Harold smith, the brass tap "we have big plans for the summer and we'd like to get back on track with our plans.

We do live music here and we have a lot of things for outdoors planned you know," both restaurants want to keep their doors open as long as they can..

But they say it's not easy.

They hope the community will keep eating local while keeping health guidelines as a top priority.

Furit phornroekngam, owner of phuket "we need busy activity to keep it going.

We cannot shut down again, we have to be safe and also be able to keep everyone here," at both restaurants curbside pick up is still an option for a no-contact way to get your food.

Reporting live in huntsville, alexis scott waay-31