Indoor dining returns
BRONX TIMES R 4 EPORTER, SEPT. 11-17, 2020 BTR
Photo by Alex Mitchell
Volunteers prep
for outdoor dining
Mott Haven eateries get new seating
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BY ALEX MITCHELL
The boomin’ boogie down Bronx
block of Alexander Avenue in Mott Haven
was given a generous boost of support
on Sept. 3 as it prepared for its inaugural
weekend of in-street dining.
Volunteers organized by both the
Third Avenue Business Improvement
District and the Bronx Community
Foundation constructed an elaborate,
connected outdoor eating space for the
many south Bronx small businesses
to make a comeback in the wake
of COVID-19.
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Restaurants like Beatstro, Ceetay,
and Hudson Smokehouse will now
have an elevated, in-street dining platform
with social distancing dividers,
spacious booths, and much will have
artistic stenciling put in for an enjoyable
outdoor eating space for this Labor
Day Weekend through the month
of October at minimum.
Two other Bronx nabes, Melrose
and Westchester Square, will also soon
be getting in-street dining at locations
to-be-vetted by the city’s Department
of Transportation, sources said.
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced
on Wednesday that New York
City will fi nally start to open indoor
dining at the end of the month.
Starting Sept. 30, New York City
restaurants will be allowed to operate
at 25% capacity for indoor dining. The
state’s SLA task force will expand into
the city, with the city providing 400 inspectors
to help enforce compliance.
Strict guidelines will be put in place
for city restaurants as they reopen. All
patrons will have their temperatures
checked at the door and must wear
masks when they are not at their table.
At least one patron in the party will
have to provide their contact information
for contact tracing should someone
be exposed to COVID-19.
Tables at restaurants must be
at least six feet apart. Restaurants
will not be allowed to offer bar service
and must close at midnight. Reopened
restaurants will also have to
have enhanced air fi ltration, ventilation
and purifi cation standards, and
all restaurants must comply with all
State-issued guidance. Outdoor dining
will remain available after indoor
dining resumes.
Repeated or egregious violations
could result in the loss of a restaurant’s
license to operate, Cuomo said.
Cuomo noted that indoor seating could
go up to 50% in New York City in November.
If New York City hits 2% in
COVID-19 positivity rates, the City will
immediately reassess.
“We are continuing New York
City’s economic recovery by bringing
back indoor dining. Working with the
state and public health offi cials, we’ve
achieved a plan that puts health and
safety fi rst by including strict capacity
limits, a close monitoring of citywide
positive testing rates and a coordinated
inspection regimen,” said
Mayor de Blasio in a statement. “Science
will guide our decision-making
as we continue to monitor progress
and health care indicators over the
next three weeks to ensure a safe reopening.
This may not look like the
indoor dining that we all know and
love, but it is progress for restaurant
workers and all New Yorkers.”
In addition to the added help from
the city, Cuomo stated that the New
York City community can help with
restaurant compliance once indoor
dining resumes.
“New Yorkers will keep New Yorkers
safe,” said Cuomo. “The New
York community is the best compliance
unit. New Yorkers have
shown all through this they have
forged community.”
This story fi rst appeared
on amny.com.
Mario’s on Arthur Avenue. Courtesy of the Belmont BID
/amny.com
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