Restaurants and bars ready to go, customers hesitant

Restaurants and bars ready to go, customers hesitant

New at ten.

When coronavirus restrictions in alabama began impacting whether or not customers could come inside and sit down - some north alabama restaurants chose to temporarily close their doors and wait out the storm.

But after several weeks - seeing other businesses transition to curbside service - some of those restaurant doors are swinging back open.

Waay31's megan reyna joins us live in downtown huntsville.

She has more on why one restaurant and bar felt right now was a good time to get up and running -- and what customers think about it.

For awhile, the management a humphreys said it didn't financially make sense to stay open... but as the economy started to pick up -- the owners chose to re-open last week but something to point out is..

This isn't the first time humphrey's has faced adversity.

Nats just about a year ago..

Nats this business -- forced to shut down for two months after a fire broke out in the kitchen.

Tewolde says:"it's almost like we're used to it at this point."

About a year later -- a pandemic caused the restaurant to stop providing any services at the end of march.

Tewolde says:"we were trying to not make the issue worse, for the people who work here and the people downtown, you know we love our community, so we just wanted to make sure we were taking as many precautions as possible."

But as the state begins to re- open in phases -- humphrey's manager wegahta tewolde said it feels like the right time to get going again.

Tewolde says:"things are kinda getting a little bit better, slowly but surely so we just wanna kinda get back out here, get everyone back to work so everyone can kinda pay their bills, kinda reconnect with their community."

But tewolde says during the time off -- they prepared... stocking up on cleaning supplies... and protective gear.

The employees now are wearing masks and gloves.

Customers only allowed inside briefly to order or grab a to go drink.

Tewolde says:"it was a bit of slow start, but each day we've noticed our numbers are getting better and better."

And while dine-in services are still on hold... they are already making adjustments.

Tables are six feet a-part... and there are sanitizing stations throughout the restaurant.

Nats customer david dunham is pleased with the adjustments.

Dunham says:"this is what everyone should be doing, i think for now on even."

However -- he himself is a bit hesitant to dine just yet since he interacts with a vulnerable population.

Dunham says:"i work from home right now, so i don't have to worry about it, as much but once everything starts opening up more, again then i think ill be more conscious of it" but there is something here at humphrey's that hasn't changed.

That's the support tewolde says the staff has for each other.

Tewolde says:"they didn't feel really abandoned at any point or time kinda felt like we all had each others back through all of this."

Now its still unclear when you'll be able to dine in at a restaurant or enjoy a drink in the bar.

We expect to hear more about a phase two of re- opening from the governor's office before may 15.

Until then, you can find a list of local restaurants providing curbside service on our website, waay tv dot com reporting live in hsv mr waay 31 news