KENMORE, NY (WKBW) — There is no word yet on when restaurants will be allowed to reopen, but the experience could be a lot difference the next time you dine out.
7 Eyewitness News senior reporter Eileen Buckley talks to one owner who is preparing for the new normal.
Inside the Eggsperience on Delaware Avenue in the Village of Kenmore it's a pretty tight fit of tables where they serve breakfast and lunch.
But co-owner Karin Kopty says she's already planning ahead to follow social distancing rules once restaurants get the state's okay to reopen.
“It might mean pulling out or rearranging or just taking some chairs away, so that people know they're not allowed to sit there,” Kopty explained.
“But I don't want to just do reopening. We have to us this moment to re-imagine and be smart and grow,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Governor Cuomo says it's important to start thinking what it means to reopen in the new normal. But Cuomo has not given any indication where restaurants fit in the state's new phases of reopening essential businesses.
Kopty says at her restaurant servers will most likely be wearing masks. They will continue to follow cdc guidelines just has they have been for sanitizing.
“We’re already so conscious of you know cleaning constantly disinfecting, using Clorox, Clorox wipes, whatever we are supposed to use — we will use,” Kopty remarked.
Right now, the Eggsperience is serving take out, but business is very slow. Most of the 16 staffers have been laid off.
Only two servers remain to assist the kitchen manager. And even when they do reopen, Kopty is concerned about getting her servers to return.
“We’re really worried about our staff coming back and being able to keep everybody we want toll,” Kopty responded. For now, restaurants like this are waiting for guidance from the state of to reopen and what precautions they will need to take.
Kopty is looking forward to a chance to fully reopen. She said it has been financially tough.
“It’s been difficult just to pay our expenses because we operating just 20-percent of our business,” Kopty explained. “We still have all our bills coming in.”
