Raleigh restaurants, bars get ready for more patrons and later nights
When restrictions ease in North Carolina at 5 p.m. on Friday, restaurants and bars will get one step closer to normal.
Posted — UpdatedUnder the new order, on-site alcohol consumption will be extended from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., and bars are allowed to seat customers indoors -- at a 30% limited capacity -- for the first time in almost a year.
Restaurants can seat customers at 50% capacity at tables spaced at least 6 feet apart.
An expanded outdoor seating area and other renovations underway at the Mellow Mushroom on Peace Street in downtown Raleigh, and the manager, Steve Gardner, said a company will be hired to perform deep cleanings.
"We want everybody to be safe -- we want to follow guidelines to a T," said Gardner, adding that, even with the governor's changes, social distancing and other policies will stay in place.
Also under the new order, sports venues no longer have a 100-person cap and can have up to 30% capacity, while indoor venues, including high schools, can have up to 250 people or 30% of capacity, whichever is less. Indoor arenas that seat more than 5,000 can have up 15% of capacity.
Despite the changes to venues, bars and restaurants, Cooper said the statewide mask mandate and mass gathering limits will remain in place to reduce the likelihood of such setbacks as more people gather with the eased restrictions.
The indoor limit has been increased from 10 to 25 people, while the outdoor limit remains at 50.
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