CLEVELAND — Businesses, including salons, barbershops and outdoor restaurant service will be allowed to reopen on May 15 and indoor restaurant service allowed to reopen on May 21 under Gov. Mike DeWine’s plan to reopen Ohio, but that doesn’t mean all businesses feel ready to do so.
Restaurants and bars across Northeast Ohio have announced that they will remain closed despite being able to reopen, both for the safety of their employees and their guests.
Scotti’s Italian Eatery in Cleveland took to Facebook to let patrons know that the restaurant would not be opening for dine-in service on May 21 because of social distancing and best practices are not feasible for their dining area.
Rather than open their doors for diners, Scotti’s Italian Eatery said it will continue its modified service of carry-out only meals for the foreseeable future
Humble Wine Bar in Lakewood is also choosing not to reopen right away despite the clearance from the governor.
“As much as we’d love to open our doors and see everybody’s faces, the health and safety of our employees and guests is what’s most important to us. For that reason, we have decided we will not be opening back up on May 15th,” the wine bar said in a Facebook post.
Like Scotti’s Italian Eatery, Humble Wine Bar said it plans to focus on its existing modified strategy of curbside carry out while monitoring the COVID-19 situation.
Brendan Ring, the owner of Nighttown in Cleveland Heights, said he won’t be opening the jazz bar until July.
“As DeWine said in his interview the other day, this is a gamble—but it’s not a gamble I’m willing to take with my customers and my staff,” Ring said.
Nighttown will not reopen until July 1 after observing how other businesses reopening fare over the six-week span.
Meanwhile, The Side Quest bar in Lakewood, which was recently saved by the community coming together to raise funds, will also not reopen right away.
General Manager and Owner Sam Bridgeman said the bar will open after first watching how the reopening effort works for other businesses.
RELATED: Community raises $25,000 to save The Side Quest bar in Lakewood
