Business News

COVID-19 & BUSINESS Restaurants, bars prepare for outdoor reopening

BY JEFF HELFRICH

jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com

Melissa and Jason Stombaugh decided carry out wasn’t for them during the COVID-19 pandemic closings.

Instead, Sledgehammer’s co-owners decided to install an outdoor patio area at their Oregon restaurant and bar.

It’ll come in handy on May 29.

That’s when the state will allow for outdoor-only dining and drinking while practicing social distancing.

“I think it’ll be packed,” Melissa said. “The weather is supposed to be good. We’re a biker destination. We have a new deck on a historical building. It’s more of a destination now.”

Sledgehammer’s plans to have a band each night of the reopening weekend. A mixed drink bar will be outdoors with horse troughs full of beer on ice.

The Stombaughs are waiting to hear from the Ogle County Health Department on other issues like whether or not patrons can use indoor restrooms or whether portable ones will be necessary.

“We’re a small town and we had a lot of people say they’re coming and live music is a big draw,” Melissa said. “We expect at least 80 percent of our normal clientele plus those that are tired of being cooped up.”

There are no plans for extra security to enforce social distancing.

That responsibility will fall on bartenders, she said. Tables will be placed six feet apart from each other and servers will be wearing masks.

The Ogle County Health Department released some guidelines for restaurants that will be reopening on its Facebook page on Friday.

The post recommended that restaurants provide handwashing stations, hand sanitizer and signage

Alex T. Paschal/Shaw Media

Melissa, Jason and Ryder Stombaugh sit on the nearly finished deck at Sledgehammers in Oregon. The restaurant/bar will be opening up the deck this Friday when Illinois moves into phase three of their reopening plan.

outlining distancing rules.

“Be sure that your expectations are clear, and that you have a plan to address instances when employees or customers do not comply with your procedures,” the OCHD post said.

The OCHD said it has fielded many questions from restaurant operators regarding use of various types of outdoor areas as well as restrooms, max capacity and more.

They expect the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will address those concerns.

Food preparation will have to occur inside establishments. Restaurants were asked to contact local building authorities or municipalities regarding outdoor seating, use of decks, tents, canopies and public restrooms.

“It is most likely that fully enclosed tents will not be permissible as it would essentially create an indoor environment,” the OCHD said.

When the news of outdoor reopenings came, Oregon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Liz Vos got right to work and called every restaurant and bar in town.

“It’s going to help tremendously,” Vos said. “It’s not as much as before all this, but at least it’s in the right direction.”

Oregon Mayor Ken Williams said the city is looking at ways to help the restaurants and bars do business, including letting them place chairs on city property such as parking lots. Streets likely won’t be blocked off for them.

• GUIDELINES Continued from Page 3

Any other outdoor dining and drinking areas authorized by local governments provided that food and drinks are prepared by licensed food or liquor establishments and that proper social distancing of 6-ft between designated customer tables and/or other seating areas is observed and parties are of six persons or fewer.

For the purposes of these guidelines, businesses may be subject to additional regulations on outdoor dining by units of local government and local health departments.

There was an item on Oregon’s City Council agenda for Tuesday that would place a 45-day moratorium on a law that currently doesn’t allow on city property.

“We’d still have to fence off the area so people aren’t wandering around the city with alcohol,” Williams said. “We have no plans for police placement. If there are groups gathering, a policeman driving by may ask them to not have people together. Our current policy is to follow the guidelines.”

Minimum guidelines for general health are as follows. 1. Employees should wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when within 6-ft. of others (cloth masks preferred). Exceptions may be made where accommodations are appropriate – see IDHR’s guidance. 2. Arrange seating to provide a minimum of 6-ft between tables. Use of plexiglass between tables is a best practice. 3. Employer should provide hand washing capability or sanitizer to employees and customers 4. Bar and restaurant employees should wash hands for 20 seconds every 30 minutes, and: a. Upon arrival to work b. Prior to and during food preparation c. When switching between tasks d. Before donning gloves to work with food or clean equipment and utensils e. After using the restroom f. After handling soiled dishes and utensils g. When visibly soiled h. After coughing, sneezing, using a tissue, touching face, i. After eating or drinking j. After smoking or vaping k. After handling cell phone 5. An adequate supply of soap, disinfectant, hand sanitizer, and paper towels must be available 6. Gloves should be worn by staff preparing food per pre-COVID food handling protocols, such as handling Ready to Eat (RTE) foods.

For more information visit www2.illinois.gov/dceo/pages/ restoreILP3 or the Ogle County Health Department’s Facebook page.