(WWJ) Many restaurants, movie theaters and stores in Michigan will be welcoming more patrons this weekend, under looser capacity limits in effect as of Friday.
Announcing the relaxed restrictions this week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said coronavirus numbers in Michigan and trending downward, and health officials believe businesses can welcome slightly larger crowds safely.
To review: Restaurants and bars are allowed to be at 50% capacity up to 100 people. Tables must be 6 feet apart, and there is an 11 p.m. curfew in effect. Retail shops are allowed to operate at 50% capacity, casinos are allowed to function at 30%, and stadiums that seat 10,000 people or fewer may allow up to 375 attendees. (More details here).
While some who have been struggling in the hospitality biz are celebrating, others say this just isn't good enough.
Restauranteur Sava Farah, who owns Sava and Aventura in Ann Arbor, said the changes — while helpful for smaller establishments — won't do much for her.
"It's certainly not going to help my businesses too much, because my business, my restaurants are on the larger side, seating up to 300 people at each of the restaurants," she told WWJ Newsradio 950's Beth Fisher. "So the 50% capacity with a hundred person maximum doesn't really change my situation."
"So, I don't get to add any seats through this change. And I think that that any of the restaurants that are over 200 seats don't really benefit from this."
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Farah said in the past year her company was already forced to close permanently close Wilma’s, a brunch and lunch spot in downtown Ann Arbor, and lay off many employees.
"We're going to have to make it somehow; we're going to have to make somethin out of it," Farah said. "We did lose one business through COVID, and we're holding on for deal life; I've got to be honest with you. It's been the struggle of my lifetime."
She said warmer weather that will allow outdoor dinning this spring and summer would help.
Other than that, the only thing that will save her business, Farah she said, would be 100% indoor capacity.
There's not hint yet from Whitmer when that might happen. Under the latest Gatherings and Mask Order issued by the health department, the 50% limit will remain in effect through Monday, April 19.
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