Even with Cooper's OK, short-staffed restaurants won't be able to welcome full crowds

One major challenge that restaurants will need to overcome is the staffing shortages.

Steve Gardner. general manager at the Mellow Mushroom, says he will certainly need to hire more people before June. He's worried it could be difficult to find new employees since workers are in such high demand right now.

Once the restrictions are lifted, seven more tables will fit in the Mellow Mushroom's patio space alone. They’ll go from a capacity of about 200 to 300.

While Gardner is thrilled for the financial relief that comes with opening at full capacity, he is glad to have about a month and half to truly get back to normal.

Mellow Mushroom and Café Luna both say they will keep some safety precautions in place.

"We will keep the signs up the hand washing signs, just so it’s fresh in people’s minds – because it’s not going away," said Gardner.

Parker Kennedy, who owns Café Luna, said they will continue to offer some socially-distanced outdoor seating options.

"We have a big patio behind the restaurant, so we are able to socially distance those tables, and they’re outside so it’s a very safe feeling," said Kennedy.

Kennedy said some people still request to eat outside.

Café Luna has lost money every single month since the start of the pandemic.

Kennedy said he thinks that will change come June.

He's feeling a sense of joy and relief, two emotions he’s had a hard time accessing since the pandemic began in March of 2020, causing restaurants to shut down and then reopen with major restrictions.

Kennedy says he never thought the restrictions would last more than a year.

"Honestly, we thought it would be a few weeks. That’s the way they positioned it when they first told us about it," he said. "But it turned into a few months, and then a year and now 16 months counting June, right.

There were times when Kennedy feared his beloved 26-year-old business wouldn’t survive, mainly due to capacity limits which stayed at 50% for months.

He said it's been such a strain – having his career only pay about half the salary he's traditionally made.

"You still have a family to feed and a mortgage to pay and a car payment to make," he said.

"Thank God for the people that work with us, for the people dine with us," he said.

Even though restrictions will lift, restaurant owners know there are still big health concerns. Some safety precautions born out of COVID will stay in place.

For now, though, restaurant owners can celebrate -- and prepare for the big day: June 1.