The city’s health commissioner announced earlier this week that Philadelphia will not move into a full version of the “green” phase of Pennsylvania's recovery and reopening strategy, which was anticipated for Friday.
The move is a blow to the city’s restaurant industry, which has already been hurting since the outbreak erupted in March.
Although he understands the health concerns, Jamie Brennan, co-owner of McCrossen’s Tavern, said small businesses like his are feeling the pinch from not being able to open their indoor dining rooms.
“One weekend can sometimes hurt you really bad. One month will definitely hurt you really bad. Four, five, six months — that’ll put you out of business,” he warned.
“I know a lot of people were looking forward to this weekend and reopening and looking to a bit of normality,” he continued. “A lot of people bought products too that now they're going to have to throw away.”
Indoor dining in Philly is now on hold until at least Aug. 1. Melissa Bova, vice president of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, said she wouldn’t be surprised to see a sudden surge of restaurant closures.
“Restaurants are really putting themselves in debt right now in the hopes that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
If Philly’s food scene is ever going to recover and fully reopen, Bova said everyone must do their part to fight the coronavirus.
“For those that think that the masks are a joke, they're going to be the ones that hurt Philadelphia's economy,” she added. “A lot of restaurants get through the winter via holiday parties and those get-togethers that businesses are hosting, and that probably is not going to be the case right now depending on what the virus dictates.”