Restaurant owners excited to resume indoor dining Monday

EDMONDS, Wash. — Restaurants in seven counties that contain more than half of Washington’s population are getting ready to bring back indoor dining.

It’s been more than two months since restaurants have been able to serve people indoors.

Starting Monday, those counties will move up to phase two after Gov. Jay Inslee eased reopening restrictions. That means restaurants and many other businesses can reopen with 25% capacity.

Those counties are all in the west and Puget Sound regions, which cover Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Pacific and Grays Harbor counties.

The owner of Salish Sea Brewing in Edmonds has been serving diners outside and says he’s ready to serve a beer inside again.

He’s pulling out all the stops to ensure anyone dining inside feels comfortable by purchasing CO2 monitors, wall-mounted fans, and several oxygen-enhancing indoor plants.

If that’s not enough to entice people inside, maybe the cold air outside will.

“Sitting outside is great for the fresh air, but a little chilly, so I’m a warm weather fan myself, so I can’t wait to get back inside,” said outdoor diner Roy Coleman.

Steve Dorn, owner of the Cove Restaurant in Lynnwood, had loyal diners eating in a tent outside, but now has new hope for survival.

“For me, it’s huge. Giving me 25% (inside) and still having the tent outside for people who want to be outside, that would almost get me back to what I would do normally,” said Dorn. “I’m staying positive and thinking it’s only getting better from here – 50 percent’s next!”

In addition to restaurants, gyms, bowling alleys, museums and concert halls are also allowed to open with 25% capacity on Monday.

VIDEO: Some businesses calling employees back to work after Phase 2 announcement

Cox Media Group