BUFFALO (WBEN) - Earlier this week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the 11 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants will be extended until midnight starting Monday.
"The numbers are down on COVID, and we talk about adjusting the valve between economic activity and economic constraint depending on how we're doing with COVID," said Cuomo.
WBEN spoke with Britesmith Brewery Owner Dave Schutte to find out if one extra hour will even make a dent for an industry that's been hit so hard by pandemic restrictions.
"It really does give us a little opportunity to extend hospitality and not have to kick people out at 11 p.m.," said Schutte. "We do get a lot of diners that like to come in around 9/9:30..."
In fact, Schutte noted that his hours of operation are now about the same as they would be under normal circumstances. For Schutte, it's the remaining restrictions that are placing the greatest restraints on the industry.
"The social distancing is obviously the big one," he said. "The six feet in between tables doesn't allow us to even get close to 75% capacity."
Overall, however, he's glad restrictions are loosening and trending in the right direction.
"Any move forward is a good one, and we just hope we can continue down this path and eventually, when we get to herd immunity, hopefully the state will lift all the restrictions and allow us to have weddings, and dancing, and bands and things like that," Schutte continued. "I am encouraged by the forward progress we're making - I think it's a little later than it should be - I think we should be a little bit more open, personally, but I just have to follow the rules at this point."
