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Ed Lee, one of the partners behind Marietta Square Market, said at the time, We think its way too early. We werent ready. As soon as we feel like its safe, well get ready and announce an opening.

In a Facebook post, the food hall announced that all of its restaurants would reopen on Friday and that the patio would be available for on-premise dining as well. The announcement also noted that the patio has been modified to accommodate social distancing guidelines. The AJC has requested additional details about the modifications but has not received a response.

Now more than a year old, Marietta Square Market is home to a wide variety of food vendors offering a range of cuisine, from ramen to Mediterranean to barbecue. Prior to the food halls reopening announcement, a majority of its vendors had closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.When dining editor Ligaya Figueras visited for Atlanta Orders In, five vendors were serving food:Grand Champion BBQ, Luckys Burgers and Brew, Forno Vero, Ponko Chicken and Four Fat Cows Ice Cream and Bakery.

Now that restaurants have had a couple of weeks to observe and understand the guidelines for reopening, all of Marietta Square Markets restaurant vendors will simultaneously reopen. The food hall will continue to offer takeout ordering with curbside pickup available for those who prefer not to go inside. Rich Dippolito, another partner behind the market, previously told the AJC that a memo had been issued to all vendors with detailed instructions for safe sanitization and service even before Gov. Kemps guidelines were released.

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Marietta Square Market reopening with all vendors and patio-only dining - Atlanta Journal Constitution

VIRGINIA (WAVY) As Virginia enters phase 1 of reopening and businesses are allowed to open for outdoor dining, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority is looking to help businesses in that process.

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority is expanding opportunities for ABC-licensed businesses to serve alcohol outside their establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virginia ABC has created an expedited approval process for outside dining areas as some businesses consider expanding their outdoor dining areas. The process allows the temporary expansion of dining areas only while the governors executive orders 61 and 62 are in effect.

Gov. Ralph Northams Executive Order 61 which starts the phase 1 reopening process allows restaurants to now operate with delivery, take-out, and outdoor dining and beverage services only. Occupancy at those restaurants must be at 50-percent capacity.

Executive Order 62 exempts Northern Virginia from the states reopening process.

The Virginia ABCs new expedited process comes with a few stipulations:

The Virginia ABCs guidance comes just one day after Virginia Beach officials briefed City Council on their plans to safely reopen the beaches and Oceanfront businesses.

Those plans include possibly expanding restaurants ability to serve food and drink on sidewalks, in parking lots and on the boardwalk.

City Council is set to hear more about those plans during a meeting Thursday.

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Virginia ABC allows businesses to expand to outside dining areas such as parking lots or patios but only with a localitys approval - WAVY.com

East Nashvilles lou is ready to reopen this week with takeaway brunch and dinner picnic sacs, whole cakes, and wine. Chef/owner Mailea Weger and crew are also offering socially distanced patio tables outside for booking. Dubbed lou sur place, the takeaway picnic option rolls out on Friday, May 15.

A dinner sac for two people is $80, and this weeks menu includes a shrimp boil, Moroccan carrots, spring pea salad, and more. Brunch sacs are available for $55. Other options are a $40 snack sac, wine, and provisions like a farmers market box, whole cakes, doughnuts, and breakfast cake with wine.

There will be multiple tables on the patio for booking that are spaced out to allow for proper social distancing. Sales will open every Wednesday, and people can pre-order for pick up on Thursday-Sunday. Guests can book online if they would like to sit on the patio. There will be a movie of the week shown outside at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday.

See this weekends menu below, then check lous website for future offerings. Hours for lou sur place are Thursday-Saturday 12 to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 until 4 p.m.

1304 McGavock Pike, , TN 37216 (615) 730-6273

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East Nashvilles Lou Returns This Weekend With Socially Distanced Patio Picnics - Eater Nashville

Sad to see Mile End Deli go from the corner across from Railroad Park, but were happy to see Hero Doughnuts expanding. Photo via Hero Doughnuts on Facebook

With an amended order from the state allowing on-premises dining at restaurants, bars and breweries that can follow social distancing guidelines, some Birmingham area restaurants have started to reopen their doors. Heres a list of 7 we know of so far.

Alabamas amended Safer at Home plan announced Friday, May 9, stated that on May 11, 2020, restaurants, bars, breweries and similar establishments may now offer on-premises consumption of food or drink.

The orderwhich will remain in effect until May 22 at 5PMalso stated that party sizes must be limited to no more than eight people who can maintain a six-foot distance between other patrons, and other specific guidelines.

Restaurants, bars and breweries were encouraged to continue take-out and delivery services as well as continue practicing safe social distancing protocols.

Since May 11, restaurants who meet these guidelines have begun to re-open in Birmingham. Here are 7 we know of so far. We will keep you updated as more places open.

Many restaurants in the Birmingham area arent ready to open their doors for customers to dine in. Some need more time to prepare and plan, and some just dont have the space to meet the CDCs social distancing guidelines. But they all still need our support. Here are a few resources with ways to do that now:

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7 Birmingham restaurants opening for in house + patio dining this week - Bham Now

Considering that Jay Dillon is expanding his outdoor furniture business in the middle of a global pandemic, things are going well.

Dillons company, Yardbird, which uses repurposed plastic debris from the ocean to make the furniture, had been planning to expand from its base in Minneapolis to Denver, Kansas City and Detroit. The novel coronavirus then broke out in China and other Asian countries where the company gets about 55% of its products.

As the disease spread around the world, Yardbird went from scrambling to get its goods from overseas to the prospect of having the products but little demand for them after U.S. businesses started closing.

Its nothing that we obviously chose to do, Dillon said of growing the company during a pandemic.

It felt like a roller coaster ride, at one point pushing to get the product and then saying No, dont get product, hold up on product, he added. Ultimately it was this up, down and then up again. Its been chaotic. Its been chaotic for everybody.

Its also been surprisingly rewarding for Yardbird as economic activity has started to pick up. The company opened its first Colorado location last week in Lone Tree when retail stores were allowed to reopen while following guidelines to keep COVID-19 from spreading. Dillon said the Lone Tree showroom did about $250,000 in business. The companys sales, primarily online, totaled roughly $2 million over the past two weeks.

We were aiming to do about half of that (in sale) in a normal environment, said Dillon.

He figures the timing has been serendipitous for Yardbird. Restrictions on business are easing at about the same time the weathers getting warmer and the backyard beckons as a safe place to venture.

As the weather becomes nice and people cant go out to events, if they havent been impacted that much financially, were seeing that theyre investing in their outdoor space to entertain close friends or their families, just to be outdoors, Dillon said.In that regard, we feel very grateful, very fortunate. Were just glad we dont sell mens dress pants since people arent going into work.

Dillon and his father, Bob, launched Yardbird in 2017. The elder Dillon has experience in importing and retail. The son worked in marketing and for a medical devices company.

It was Dillons personal experience of shopping for outdoor furniture that led to starting Yardbird. He saw an opening for a product that wasnt as expensive as that sold by high-end retailers but of higher quality than some of the lower-priced furniture.

Dillon, who lived for a while in Hong Kong, visited factories in Asia and learned more about how other companies use plastic that winds up in the ocean. He said large nets are used to collect plastic and other garbage on the beaches in Hong Kong, but youre still swimming in a ton of debris.

About 60% of everything we sell has intercepted ocean plastic in it. An average set will have at least 20 to 30 pounds of that plastic in it, Dillon said.

Yardbird works with businesses in China and other countries to produce strong plastic whose colors wont easily fade. The company gets about 10% of its products from Europe and 30-35% from the U.S., including a supplier in Durango.

The supply-chain challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak has Yardbird exploring more domestic sources of material, including aluminum. The company is going to manufacture a new line of Adirondack chairs.

However, Dillon thinks some products from other countries would be hard to replace, such as hand-woven wicker furniture.

Yardbird opened a showroom in Kansas City Monday, but has pushed back an opening in Detroit, which has been a hot spot for the coronavirus.

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Company that turns plastic into patio furniture successfully expands into Denver area during pandemic - The Denver Post

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) Restaurants and breweries in Vancouver now have more freedom in opening up patio spaces in a bid to help the struggling industry amid pandemic.

Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung says the restaurant industry has been hit hard during this pandemic and needs help.

I would hate to see us lose our restaurants. Those small businesses, theyre the heart and soul of our city. Its where we connect and socialize, she says.

After connecting with some local restaurants, Kirby-Yung says she learned some places just needed patio space in order to open again safely.

I talked to operators. I talked to one fella who has five restaurants, small ones in Vancouver. He says, Four of them, I can have an outdoor space, and that will enable me to open,' she says.

A motion passed unanimously Wednesday allowing restaurants and breweries to expand patio spaces.

Kirby-Yung says this will help some restaurants open, while still practicing physical distancing.

We know that our restaurants have high overhead costs. They still have high rent and costs of operating, and the numbers just dont work if they have to stay with their inside spaces. This could make or break the difference between a restaurant being able to survive or being able to re-open up at all, she explains.

The councillor also says it is somewhat of historic motion since Vancouver has never allowed craft breweries to have patios before because theyre located in industrial areas.

For the first time, you can go to somewhere that might of had a small tasting room, or if youre picking up some local Vancouver brews to go, you can actually sit outside to enjoy one, so thats huge, Kirby-Yung says.

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Restaurants, breweries able to expand patio seating in Vancouver - CityNews Vancouver

For one Toronto restaurant owner, a planby Mayor John Tory to allow restaurants to expand their patio space onto city sidewalks and streets may be the only hope to save her Little Italy business, after the battering it hastaken from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anita Mancuso, owner of Sotto Voce Wine and Pasta Bar at 595 College St.,thinks the city could close down a lane of trafficto create more space forrestaurants once they are permitted to open for more than takeout and delivery. Physical distancing to ensure safety of patrons and staff would be part of the plan.

With many restaurants and cafes along College Street, in particular, the plan makes sense, she told CBC Toronto on Wednesday. The plan might take away some parking, butwith fewer people driving their cars right now, parking is easier to find, she added.

At the very least, Mancuso said she would like to use some of the sidewalk.

"This week, I am struggling to figure out how we're going to keep the doors open. I honestly can't think of how we're going to keep going," said Mancuso, who runs the business with her husband.

"I'm not going down without a fight, so I'll take anything. I would love to open the patio. But it has to extend."

The restaurant has already laid off all of its staff "I can't bring them back" and has taken advantage of all government programs it can. Initially, it was traumatizing, then there was a month ofrepainting and fixing, but now, the longer it goes on, the harder it is, she said.

Under normal circumstances, Sotto Voce can fit 12 tables on its patio. The tables are normally four inches apart, "very New York style." She said the revenue she makes on the patio pays for the whole year.

Normally, the patio would have tables tight together, with fire pits for warmth on cooler nights and a fewcomfy couches. The patio can seat 24 people.

"Big groups that don't know each other are able to sit cozyall together around either of the fire pits," she said. "It's meant to be reallycomfortable, sitting with people you don't know.And you meet people you don't know. Everyone talks to everyone. That's the success of this place. It's the same inside."

But if the city eventually allows restaurants to open their patios with physical distancing guidelines in place, Mancusosaid she would likely be able to fit only about five tables on her patio at half capacity, even thoughthe patio is bigger than the restaurant.

"It just doesn't work.Five tables cannot support the rent in thiscity."

However, more patio space would mean more tables, and Mancuso said she really needs the city to allow her to expand her outdoor seating area. If tables were spaced six feet apart over a larger area, it might work.

"There's no reason why tables couldn't go the length of my restaurant here. I could probably get three or four tables in," she said while standing outside on the sidewalk.

"It definitely can't hurt. We would take it and embrace it because we don't have an alternative. And there aren't anyother new alternatives or initiatives coming. If they are going to allow us to do patios, we have to be able to do themthe best we can, with safety in mind, for staff, for our patrons."

At a daily news briefing on COVID-19 on Wednesday, Tory said he is considering the move.

The mayorhas asked city staff from Transportation Services to identify areas where restaurants could expand their patio space as part of his overall recovery plan.

"What I have asked the city staff to come forward with is areas of the city that would be appropriate to take up road space and sidewalk space. We have had some success on King Street obviously with the King Street pilot," Tory said.

The mayor said he hopes to have a list of locationssoon and he believes the expansion would be useful in the recovery period.

"I think not only could this provide us with a more enjoyable summer ...but I also believe that it could be a lifeline for some of our restaurantsand especially in light of the fact they will probablybe required to have tables both inside and outside that are spaced further apart," Tory said.

"I think we can sweep away some of the red tape and get this done as a way of making the city even more friendly for everybody but also for our hard-working friends in the restaurant business."

As for Sotto Voce Wine and Pasta Bar, it markeda milestone on May 1, its 20thyear in business. Mancuso said she has gone through all the "hills and valleys of everything" in two decades.

"For two years, I've been planning this huge street party, all our clients, 20 years, big white ball.It didn't exactly go that way," Mancuso said.

With COVID-19, not only is there no party, but there are also no customers allowed to dine inside. The restaurant offers takeout and a patron made a sign for the restaurant to advertise that fact.

It's not over yet, however, and Mancuso said she will wait to see what the mayor proposes.

"They have to do something, ornone of us are going to survive."

Read more here:
Plan to allow eateries to expand patios could save many businesses, restaurateur says - CBC.ca

DENVER -- A group of Denver restaurant owners sent a letter to the mayor Friday seeking a rule change that will allow for more social distancing and more seating arrangements outside premises in order to protect public health during the coronavirus pandemic in our state.

The letter to the mayor comes as restaurants are finding out that following the rules set forth by the city and county of Denver after the stay-at-home order expired Friday night are not "one size fits all."

At Los Mesones on West Colfax Avenue, space is tight and carryout isn't carrying the load.

It's really, really hard because all the customers want to eat here, Los Mesones owner Hector Hugo said.

But down the road at Mezcal and Goosetown Tavern, they're not even open.

We kinda (sic) opted to shut down, clean, fix things up and get ready for when things open back up, Goosetown Tavern and Mezcal owners Chris Swank told Denver7.

But Swank fears if reopening will be enough to keep not only the patrons safe, but his staff as well.

West Colfax Business District Dan Shah says, "innovation of rules or relaxation of rules to allow them to take advantage of space" would be one way for businesses to continue thriving as we ride out the pandemic.

That means using sidewalks, parking lots, bagged meters and even blocked off streets to allow for greater social distancing at any given restaurant.

It would be a little bit more European in nature. A little more laid back, Swank said.

And rather than strictly barricaded patios, the owners hope for more flexibility on patio space.

"I think anybody that has patio space will help. People will be more comfortable on patios once this opens all back up, Swank said.

Its something the Colorado Restaurant Association (CRA) hopes to do statewide.

"We've been working with Denver and other municipalities around the state to get the patio expansion programs up and running as soon as possible, so hopefully we'll see more information soon, CRA President Sonia Riggs said.

Which is something that means so much to these restaurants trying to keep up the fight in the midst of the pandemic.

I think it's huge. I think it could be make-or -break for a restaurant, Swank said.

We need more space to keep the restaurant working, Hugo added.

So they're hoping to step outside the box literally to save an industry Denver needs to survive.

Read more:
Front Range restaurants seek to expand patio limits as they reopen to protect people from COVID-19 - The Denver Channel

Chris Fox, CP24.com Published Wednesday, May 13, 2020 7:13AM EDT Last Updated Wednesday, May 13, 2020 6:19PM EDT

Expanded restaurant patios that would allow patrons to properly physical distance themselves could be a part of the citys reopening plans, Mayor John Tory says.

The province still hasnt indicated when restaurants and bars will be permitted to reopen but in an interview with CP24 on Wednesday morning Tory said that he has asked staff to provide him with a list of possible locations where patios could be expanded into the street in order to help struggling businesses that will need as much of a boost as possible once they can resume dining service.

Torys comments come as Hamilton city council gets set to debate a motion that calls on staff to work with BIAs and restaurant owners to identify locations that could be transformed into outdoor dining districts.

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti also told CP24 on Tuesday that he is looking into enacting a temporary bylaw in his community that would eliminate a cap on the number of patio seats a restaurant can have, which is based on their indoor seating capacity.

I think not only could it provide us with a source of more enjoyment this summer after all we have been through this winter and spring but also I think that it could be a lifeline for some of the restaurants, especially in light of the fact that they will probably be required to have tables further apart inside and outside, Tory said of expanded patios.

So I have asked them (staff) to come back to me with some possible locations and I expect we will have some news on that fairly soon.

It remains unclear what regulations restaurants may have to face once they eventually reopen, though a number of U.S. states have slashed their capacities and made reservations mandatory.

Speaking with CP24, Tory said that the city has allowed restaurants to expand their patios into the street before, most notably as part of the King Street Transit Priority Corridor.

He said that he sees the effort as part of a wider plan to reimagine the way in which we are using public space in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think we can sweep away some of the red tape and get this done as a way of making the city friendly for everybody but also our friends in the restaurant business, he said.

Restaurants across Ontario have been limited to take-out service only since March 24 under a provincial order.

Helping our restaurant industry survive and reopen is an important role the city government can play," Tory said.

New tool to help restaurants and food services

The city also announced on Wednesday that it is partnering with Toronto startup Ritual to launch an ordering tool that will provide businesses with an easy way to accept digital orders online and onsite.

Tory said the new service called Ritual One will help minimize the local impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy by supporting restaurants and food services.

This partnership with Ritual as part of our short-term economic support and recovery plan for Toronto, Tory said.

He said businesses that will sign up for Ritual One before June 1 will receive the service free for life and will not pay any commission or monthly subscription fees.

The shift to digital has been growing as we all know in recent years, but COVID-19 has accelerated this transition beyond what we possibly could have imagined, Tory said.

Businesses can sign up at https://ritual.co/partners.

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'It could be a lifeline:' City may allow some restaurants to expand patios once they are permitted to reopen - CP24 Toronto's Breaking News

This pop-up parklet sprang to life in the community of Marda Loop as a result of the work done by the local BIA. LIVEWIRE CALGARY FILE PHOTO

Restaurants and bars around Calgary will be able to open patio areas into public spaces to increase capacity in anticipation of Calgarys stage one coronavirus re-opening on May 14.

Councillors approved the proposal Monday during a Strategic Meeting of Council, where they reviewed an administration proposal on the openings of local restaurants and bars.

Documents released during council meeting outlined what local business can expect with opening patio spaces.

A temporary permission will be issued at no cost for temporary patios. Existing patios on public lands will not be charged for the 2020 season, the documents read.

Most Calgary restaurants and bars are available to re-open on May 14 with a temporary patio to accommodate social distancing and health regulations. Thats when the provinces Stage one relaunch begins.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said even though restaurants can open, theyre to do so at 50 per cent capacity.

It might be hard to make some money, he said

And so this allows you to have more capacity, while adhering to physical distancing moving to outdoors, which might be a bit safer.

Calgary city roads representative John Bolger said that patios could be extending into the public parking and community spaces to better accommodate businesses with reduced space.

Business will apply for approval and we will determine whether or not they can extend into public right of way spaces, he said

Applicants are required to provide the number of tables and chairs they will be using and delineate how this space will be used.

Bolger added that business that require public space will need to outline how the they will protect public accessibility and satisfy Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (ALGC) requirements.

From then, applications will be submitted to AGLC for approval before any temporary patio can be established.

Bolger also commented that audio and televisions will not be allowed on temporary patio spaces.

Our existing rules, I believe dont allow for audio on patios, he said

Coun. Druh Farrell said parking should be there to service businesses, not the other way around.

If a local neighbourhood is dying, and the local shops are dying then there really isnt a lot of parking revenue anyway, she said

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City of Calgary will allow temporary patios in first stage of coronavirus relaunch - LiveWire Calgary