BOSTON — Restaurants across Massachusetts enjoyed their last late-night dining Thursday before the state’s new restaurant curfew takes effect Friday.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced the order this week forcing restaurants and bars to close by 9:30 p.m. due to a sharp increase in coronavirus cases. The announcement followed nine consecutive days of more than 1,000 new daily cases of COVID-19.
The curfew requires restaurants and bars to stop table service by 9:30, with all patrons having left the establishment by 10 p.m. Delivery and takeout are still allowed after that time. Sean Lyon, general manager of Conrad’s Restaurant in Norwood, said he understands the state’s effort to curb the spread of the virus, but another restriction is tough for the restaurant business.
“The limiting of the restaurants is just another blow to us,” Lyon said. “We have a strong clientele, so we are fortunate. But it’s still not what it was before COVID.”
The outdoor patio at Conrad’s has been a huge boost for business as indoor capacity is limited. Lyon said the restaurant is taking every precaution necessary to keep patrons and staff safe, including limiting capacity, practicing social distancing, wearing masks, constantly sanitizing surfaces and utilizing Plexiglass dividers at the bar. But limiting dining hours, particularly on nights when football is on, will hurt, Lyon said.
“When you have a game on at 8:30 at night… Now we’re into it, we have to tell everyone, ‘I’m sorry. We have to close,’” Lyon said. “It’s brutal on those nights, because you would generally on a Thursday night game, you’d have people hanging out until 10, 10:30 at night. They’d watch at least the first half and then head home.”
Lyon said the support of Conrad’s regulars and a busy takeout service have kept the business afloat and profiting, but he thinks a lot about his servers and bartenders.
“A lot of these kids, they rely on this to make rent, to make their mortgage, everything,” Lyon said. Down the street at Limey’s Pub, sisters Stephanie and Janice Michaud eating dinner outside told Boston 25 News they sympathize with the business owners and workers.
“I think it’s a bummer,” Stephanie said. “I think it will be tough for businesses like Limey’s.”
They believe grabbing a late-night bite or drink is sometimes a much-needed piece of normalcy during the pandemic.
“I think being able to go out to a restaurant and eat and have a few drinks has been so important for people to reconnect with friends and family – and just be able to get out of the house,” Janice said. “I think it’s going to be tough on some people, just not having that available to them.”
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