Local restaurants readying for reduced capacity limits as statewide restrictions take effect

EASTON, Mass. — New COVID-19 restrictions went into effect Saturday across Massachusetts, forcing restaurants to limit their capacity to 25% for the next couple of weeks.

“Well when we first heard we were going to be reduced to 25%, we felt like it was March 15 all over again,” said Neil Levine, owner of Maguire’s Bar & Grill in Easton.

At first, Levine wasn’t happy about changing his restaurant once again to limit business. But he said, once he looked into the changes, he realized his restaurant is pretty much already working at a 25% capacity.

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Levine removed about a dozen tables earlier this year to follow social distancing guidelines. Now, with the colder weather, they have fewer tables outside.

“So we’re already at a reduced capacity outside,” Levine said. “We’re already at a reduced capacity inside; if you add to that people’s reluctance to actually go out in this type of a climate, you’re pretty close to a voluntary 25% reduction.”

As fewer people go out to eat, Levine said takeout orders have increased and now make up about 70% of their business.

“So we’ve already seen a shift in dining trends of the general public,” Levine said.

So Levine said they’ll try to adapt with whatever changes come next to make sure their restaurant survives this pandemic.

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“We’ve spent 28 years building something that could survive a storm like this and right now it’s about getting through the storm, getting to the other side,” Levine said. “There’s a vaccine out, there’s hope on the horizon, let’s get through the winter, let’s keep operating, let’s keep people employed and we’ll be better off for it.”

Along with the 25% capacity limit, other restrictions are still in place at restaurants including a 90-minute time limit for each party and a rule that customers are supposed to keep masks on until their food comes out.

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