With restaurants at limited capacity for indoor dining because of the coronavirus pandemic, many have added outdoor seating in an effort to make up for that loss of customers — and revenue. But with cold weather approaching, restaurant owners are pondering alternatives to outdoor seating.
Current state protocols allow restaurants to use 50 percent of capacity for indoor dining. “We’re getting better and better every week with indoor dining, even though we’re only allowed 50 people instead of 100,” said Vito Vinceslao, owner of Friendlier Pizza and Restaurant in Woodmere, adding that outdoor seating has helped his business over the past few months. “Those who are skeptical of sitting inside sit outside, which is fine.”
Vinceslao acknowledged that he did not have a date in mind by which outdoor seating would be put on hold. “It’s all weather permitting,” he said. “If it’s 25 degrees outside, the heaters aren’t going to help too much. We’re going to have to concentrate on takeout and people coming inside when it gets cold.”
For Nick Scarcella, owner of Da Nicola in Hewlett, business has been consistent in recent months thanks to the outdoor option. “Our business has been a nice mix of takeout and outdoor seating,” he said. “Indoor seating has done the least business for us. With the weather getting colder, the plan for us is to prepare for mostly takeout business, as the people who haven’t been sitting inside will just go back to takeout.” Scarcella noted that his outdoor seating accommodates roughly 35 diners.
He added that he was uncertain about how business would be in the winter. “We pretty much have to take it week by week,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say that people want to sit outside more than they want to sit inside right now.”
At Remy’s, another Italian restaurant in Hewlett, owner Remy Kurtaj said that outdoor seating has been a pivotal part of his business. “I’d say that 80 percent of our customers have been dining outdoors and about 20 percent have been dining indoors,” he said. “After we opened outdoor dining, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel for us. If I didn’t have outdoor dining as an option, I’m not sure if the restaurant would’ve survived.”
Kurtaj said it was difficult to predict would happen as the weather continues to cool. “From my conversations with some customers who sit outside, it seems like they’re not ready to sit inside for safety reasons,” he said.
Gary Goldenshteyn, the owner of Woodro Kosher Delicatessen and Restaurant in Hewlett, said that indoor dining has been almost nonexistent. “Fortunately for us, people have still ordered from us throughout the pandemic,” he said. “Our indoor seating has decreased. Despite that, our business has been doing well.”
Randy Rosner, owner of Bagel Boss, in Hewlett, said that the store has seen an increase in the number of customers coming into the store to order. “I’d say our people count is almost back to 100 percent,” he said. “Our catering orders are down, but I think that’s because people aren’t having large gatherings due to the circumstances. I feel hopeful going forward.”
Even after the pandemic, Scarcella said, restaurants should find a way to make outdoor seating a part of their future. “It would be nice if we can find a way to keep this outdoor seating as an option going forward,” he said. “We have a clientele of customers who come from Europe, and they’re used to outdoor seating.”
