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Date: 12/16/2020
EASTHAMPTON – Gov. Charlie Baker’s recent statewide rollback to step 1 of phase 3 of the state’s coronoavirus reopening plan, effective Dec. 13, won’t result in major changes for the city’s restaurants and is essentially an extension for the city of Easthampton.
The city has been in step 1 of phase 3 since Oct. 30 when Mayor Nicole LaChapelle ordered that the city revert back from step 2 of the phase due to the rising COVID-19 case numbers. This rollback reduced indoor capacities to 40 percent and limits outdoor gatherings to 50 people, a reduction from the 100 allowed under step 2.
Additional safety guidelines will be applied to restaurant dining as well. People dining in will have to wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking. Restaurants cannot seat any more than six people per table, there is a 90-minute limit on tables, musical performances are no longer permitted, and food court seating must be closed.
Nini’s Ristorante owner Aristide “Gianni” Daniele said he is mentally preparing for the coming months. While nothing has changed at his business since Baker’s announcement, he is putting it in the back of his mind that the restaurant may be strictly take-out again at some point.
Daniele told Reminder Publishing that as far as people dining in, he is seeing lower numbers than normal.
“It is not a usual Friday or Saturday night at Nini’s. But again, we still do it and we are still seeing people coming in which is nice because at least we are still employing a couple of servers,” he said.
Philip Pallante, husband of Sunia Hood, the owner of La Veracruzana said Baker’s announcement is an extension of what they have been doing. He said from the restaurant’s standpoint they will continue to be careful with their staff and with how they are entertaining people who are coming in to eat.
He also cannot help but think of the future and what that looks like for the three locations in Easthampton, Northampton, and Amherst.
“I think there is an element, after eight or nine months of this, that we are just trying to mentally prepare ourselves for what potentially is next because there has been a lot of change since March 17,” he said.
Due to the uncertainty regarding the pandemic, Reminder Publishing recommends contacting individual restaurants for updates such as changes in business hours and operations.