Local restaurant owners discuss re-opening dining rooms

ALBANY, Ga. — Starting Monday, restaurants in the state of Georgia will be allowed to re-open their dining rooms with limited restrictions.

In Albany, which has been a hotbed for COVID-19 cases, many are refraining from fully re-opening their doors.

Ward 3 Commissioner and local restaurant owner, B.J. Fletcher says, “This is not going to be a ‘one-size fits all’, but I think we all came to the conclusion that we we’re gonna wait, step back, see what our hospital officials say, and follow their lead with this.”

Fletcher is one of many owners who are holding off on opening their dining rooms, opting for the non-contact methods of curbside pickup and drive thru.

“We just talked about the governor putting out the go-ahead on restaurants opening, and not speaking for everybody, we feel we need a little more time in this community to get our feet under us before we re-open,” says Austin Newman, the owner of Austin’s Fire Frill and Oyster Bar.

While plenty of the local restaurant owners are in agreement to keep their dining rooms closed for the time being, they’re concerned about the chain restaurants re-opening, especially in the event that a second wave of covid cases are confirmed.

Newman says, “If we only had two cases in our county, i would recommend that restaurants open but that’s not the case here in Albany. We are a hotbed, hot spot, whatever you want to call it. And we need to take extra precautions before we re-open.”

“We’re over a hundred in deaths right now, we still have people in the hospital, and again, i’ll stick by what phoebe officials tell me and always be careful. But right now, i just feel for this area, it is not a time for us to open,” says Fletcher.

Restaurant owners plans to meet again to discuss further steps Thursday, April 30th..