HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
Tennessee restaurants have been given the green light to let customers back inside and serve beyond just take-out. Well, that was earlier this week and some restaurants still haven't restarted dine-in service.
Restaurants in Tennessee are now allowed to have customers dine-in. But, not all owners are so eager to open their doors right away.
Tennessee officials have recommended restaurant employers to take temperatures of customers and employees before entering the building.
Jamie Jordan, owner of JJ’s Coffee and More in Ardmore, Tennessee says, “I think that’s a bit invasive-- for what I’m trying to do.”
Jordan has decided not to reopen indoor dining and allow her customers to eat on the patio if they choose. She says, “We have some limited seating out front. About seven seat. Three tables total.”
Tennessee restaurants are now allowed to resume indoor and dine-in services, as long as they’re only filled to 50% capacity. Jamie Jordan says she decided to hold off on indoor dining at this time, just to be safe. She tells our reporter, “That’s how we’re going to run for the next 30 days and if everything goes well and we don't see a curve or bump-- anything heightened… we’re going to open up.”
About 25 minutes northeast in Fayetteville, Our Place Diner is starting to prepare to welcome customers back to their dining room. Owner, Beth Altimari, tells us, this pandemic turned business upside down. She says, “We’ve been struggling. It’s been a fight to keep things going.”
The restaurant will be closed for the weekend to make sure everything is ready before they invite customers back inside this coming Monday. Altimari tells our reporter, “We’ll be masks and gloves, lots of sterilizing, lots of Lysol. So, we’re just kind of keeping up with all of the guidelines that are coming out and making sure everything is safe for everyone to come out."
Some of their employees haven’t been able to work because of the restrictions. Altimari says the team is excited to welcome them back now that dining-in is an option again. She adds, “We’re a family here so I’ve been missing some of my family. It’ll be great to have everyone back n the building and back at work.”
These two owners may be handling the new order differently, but they have one thing in common. They both say they can’t express how grateful they are to the community for sticking with them during this time.