OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Restaurants and other businesses across Central Florida are preparing to reopen Monday as the county also lifts its curfew.
Many say they’ll be going beyond what’s being required of them to reopen, to make sure people feel safe.
Harry Graham is experiencing a mix of emotions as his team at Blue Springs Brewing moves tables to be at least six feet apart from one another.
“I’m thrilled, I’m cautious,” said Graham, who is the brewery’s owner and general manager. “I'm happy to be able to get back open and get my employees back in here.”
He said his staff is “making sure (they) do everything in our power to prevent a potential second wave.”
That’s why he’s going beyond what the state is requiring restaurants to do to reopen.
He’s installing an infrared thermometer that will check people’s temperatures as they’re coming in the door.”
He’s also limiting occupancy below 25%.
“The last thing I would want is to have something on my conscience, like someone getting sick at one of my restaurants,” he said.
At Paris Nails, co-owner Montel Tran is putting up sneeze guards then, eventually, will put up dividers between chairs. He also bought masks, hand sanitizers and other cleaning supplies. However, the store won’t open under Phase 1.
Salons and barbershops are not part of the first part of the reopening plan. However, Mayor Jerry Demings has penned a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis urging him to reconsider.
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines in place and the governor’s order to reopen businesses, there will be some challenges for local restaurants.
“We are going to try to keep it to the base on the 25% of our indoor occupancy, so about 38 people that we’re going to allow in here,” said Vinnie Barber, a restaurant owner in Osceola County, which will also be lifting its curfew on Monday.
Read: Looking ahead: What Phase 2, 3 could look like when reopening
Barber said cleanliness is key.
“We have cleaned so much in this restaurant that the five-second rule is out the window. If you drop food on our floor right now, you can eat it five hours later,” Barber said.
Although everything is ready to go for Monday Barber says he fears no one will show up.
Nonetheless, Barber said Monday will be good but a different beginning for many businesses in the county.
Cox Media Group
