Community

Phase One arrives and patios open at Loudoun restaurants, bars

The eased restrictions now allow for some outdoor patio service at a reduced capacity.

It’s a big day for many restaurants, bars and other businesses in Loudoun County and the rest of Northern Virginia. The official move from Phase Zero to Phase One takes place today and, for many local businesses, it’s taken on an anticipatory mood.

Kevin Bednarz, owner of the The Ashburn Pub and The Purcellville Pub, compared it to “the first day of school” on social media. Bednarz is just one of many local establishment owners who has scrambled to add outdoor seating. Under Phase One, restaurants and bars can only serve customers outdoors or carry out. Inside dining rooms and bars remain closed for seating.

The graphic below provides more details on the changes from Phase Zero to Phase One.

Under the new rules in effect today, masks are also mandatory in indoor public spaces.

While some restaurants will open to outdoor service today, many others are holding off a little longer and continuing to focus on carry out and delivery service. Ford’s Fish Shack is taking a slower approach, evaluating the best way forward. They have announced they are unlikely to open their patios until more restrictions are lifted.

“It’s not just coming back and flipping the lights on,” said Tony Stafford, the owner of Ford’s Fish Shack. “My servers, my staff are all going to have different job descriptions now. The model is changing.”

Stafford suggests that customers will also need to expect new policies and procedures as area establishments begin opening. Possibilities include:

  • Restaurants going reservation only
  • Restaurants limiting the amount of time a customer can spend at a table
  • Charging for items that were previously free, such as baskets of bread
  • Smaller, more limited menus
  • Price increases to help make up for limitations on seating and customer capacity
  • One-time use paper menus
  • Disposable silverware for customers who ask for it
  • Frequent sanitizing of tables and other high touch areas
  • Employees wearing masks and gloves
  • Employees have temperatures taken several times during a shift

There is no official word on when Virginia will move to Phase Two and ease more restrictions. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said it could come as soon as next Friday, June 5 — but that there wasn’t enough information yet to make a decision.

(Image at top: The patio at Parallel Wine & Whiskey Bar in the Broadlands.)

6 Comments
  1. Shawnda 4 years ago

    Anybody remember Chipotle’s disaster that sent many diners to area hospitals?? Restaurants everywhere in our happy Northam Virginia were third world way before our Election Year Virus happened. Soon, eating out will become the place to unload a few pounds through Montezuma’s revenge similar to military mess halls long held tradition of same. Will we need gyms then?

  2. Retch 4 years ago

    Restaurants won’t come back ‘to normal’ anywhere in Virginia or in the USA since customers will be terrified of contact tracing and heck, the general poisoning of the food which started long before our pandemic.

    Better to eat at home and Zoom socially, wait until after the Presidential election when Joe Biden becomes our next leader.

  3. Mark 4 years ago

    Certainly doesn’t look like the waitress in the picture is wearing a mask (unless that picture was taken previously which I doubt).

  4. Retch 4 years ago

    Restaurants won’t come back ‘to normal’ anywhere in Virginia or in the USA since customers will be terrified of contact tracing and heck, the general poisoning of the food which started long before our pandemic.

    Better to eat at home and Zoom socially, wait until after the Presidential election when Joe Biden becomes our next leader.

  5. Wewill know in 14 days 4 years ago

    We will know in two weeks whether this virus is going to be a problem. If the virus is as bad as advertised, there will be a big 2nd wave soon. Just look at the Riots around the country. Everyone so close together, few with masks etc. If it’s going to spread, we will know in 14 days or less. If not, we should just go back to normal by mid June.

Comments are closed.