Restaurants will be allowed to seat patrons outdoors
Small Business Reacts to Gov. Hogan’s Announcement of Continued Steps in Reopening Plan
Maryland Small Business owners say they are more than ready but concerns remain
ANNAPOLIS (May 27, 2020) — The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), an association advocating for thousands of small businesses in Maryland, reacted today to Governor Larry Hogan’s announcement he will lift restrictions on restaurants allowing them expanded outdoor seating as of this Friday, May 29 at 5 p.m. Also, the Governor announced guidance for youth sports, day camps, and outdoor pools to reopen and alluded to Maryland moving to the next phase of reopening as soon as next week. State Director for NFIB in Maryland, Mike O’Halloran, and NFIB member, Andrew Fox, a restaurant owner with locations in Anne Arundel County and Baltimore, reacted to the announcement:
“This is welcome news for Maryland’s restaurants, bars, brewpubs, and eateries. The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis,” Mike O’Halloran said. “But serious concerns remain with how this will play out in each jurisdiction and if restauranteurs will be able to staff up appropriately.”
“Restaurants operate on the thinnest of margins under normal circumstances, so giving us more opportunities to get our customers back is very much appreciated,” said Andrew Fox, owner of Fox’s Den and Vida Taco Bar. “But more worrisome than how local health officials will interpret this order is whether or not I’ll be able to hire my staff back. The extra $600 in weekly unemployment insurance benefits is making it harder for employers to rehire their staff and the restaurant industry is bearing the brunt of that.”
“Like the Governor, small business owners are also encouraged by the positive trends in hospitalizations, testing capacity, and ICU beds. Maryland’s job creators are hopeful those numbers continue to decline so the state can move into the next phase of the economic recovery for small businesses,” added O’Halloran.
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