Philadelphia restaurants may reopen dining rooms Saturday at 25% capacity; theaters, performances may return with limitations

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) – As of Saturday, indoor dining may resume at restaurants in Philadelphia after the city lifted a nearly two-month ban due to the spread of the coronavirus.

The restaurants hosted on Friday evening for customers to come through their doors again.

“It will be a huge weight on our shoulders to welcome people inside,” said Rob Pelszinski, owner of Mount Airy Taproom.

His restaurant and bar opened in 2019, six months before the city first closed restaurants due to the spread of COVID-19 in March.
Pelszinski said his dining room and staff were ready to welcome customers inside again. A heated outdoor patio and take-out service have helped support his restaurant, but that’s not enough.

“It’s hard. You don’t get rich paying rent for a restaurant that you can’t set up,” Pelszinski said.

In South Philadelphia, Bridget Foy said she was excited to show off her brand new dining room for the first time on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: Bridget Foy’s reopens with pop-up coffee after devastating fire

Bridget Foy’s local bar and kitchen were destroyed by fire in 2017.

“With 25% capacity, our tables are socially spaced. We are very fortunate to have a brand new HVAC system, so the ventilation is great,” said Foy.

Indoor dining in Philadelphia restaurants has been banned since November 20.
On Saturday January 16, restaurants can reopen but must follow severe restrictions.

SEE ALSO: Dining options will resume January 16 in Philadelphia, but with restrictions

They can only operate at 25% of their capacity and without bar seats. No more than four people can sit at a table, and they must be from the same household.

Guests should wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking.

While restaurateurs can’t wait to reopen, they know it’s hard to convince people to eat inside.

Pelszinski said he and his staff are taking every precaution possible, but he realizes that’s not necessarily enough for some customers.

This was the second indoor eating ban during the pandemic so far. From March 16 to September 8, there were no meals inside. City officials then allowed restaurants to open at 25 percent capacity, then increased the limit to 50 percent on October 2 before the latest ban went into effect on November 20.

On January 4, Pennsylvania restaurants outside of Philadelphia reopened their indoor dining rooms with limited capacity.

Restaurants must go through a self-certification process to reach 50% of their capacity, otherwise they are limited to 25%.

Philadelphia also allows the resumption on Saturday of other “riskier” contexts and activities. Theaters and performance halls are allowed to reopen with a cap on the total number of participants, including staff, of 10 percent maximum occupancy. If maximum occupancy is unknown, plan for 10 people per 1,000 square feet. Everyone present must be masked and no food or drink is allowed.

Colleges are also allowed to retake classes in person.

Philadelphia, along with the rest of the state, also reopened less risky places such as museums, gyms and casinos on Jan.4.