After months of guidelines restricting in-person dining, East Lansing bars prepare to reopen their doors to the public Monday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the movement of the state to Phase 4 of the Michigan Safe Start Plan on June 1, allowing restaurants and bars to reopen for indoor and outdoor seating June 8 at 50% capacity with social distancing measures in place.
Some bars, such as The Riv and Rick's American Cafe are waiting to announce an official reopening date as they continue to work on their restaraunts, per a video posted on each establishment's Facebook Page.
Others are ready to welcome back the public.
Crunchy’s Owner and General Manager Michael Krueger said the bar will be following all social distancing guidelines and will be opening their doors Monday.
“The restaurant is set up a little bit differently than what it was to make sure we have enough distance between the people,” Krueger said.
A new host stand will require customers to wait to be seated to ensure the dining area remains within capacity guidelines, and those entering will be asked to wear a mask until they reach their table.
New touchless menu and payment options allow diners to scan QR codes from their phones to avoid any unnecessary contact.
Online ordering options will remain available for curbside take-out, pick-up and delivery.
Crunchy’s will not be holding any karaoke, trivia, comedy or live music events upon reopening, Krueger said.
Among other bars opening on Monday, Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub have opened up their patio and will be offering half-off sandwiches, $2.25 drafts and $3 long islands, according to a post Monday evening. The Peanut Barrel will welcome customers to dine in with options available for both indoor and outdoor patio dining.
HopCat will reopen their doors June 13, according to a social media statement by founder Mark Sellers.
“There was a brief time back in March and early April when we didn’t know if we would ever reopen," Sellers said. "No business owner ever plans for a 100% drop in revenue for any extended period of time, and definitely not for three months. We had to fight to survive. … But we survived."
According to the statement, HopCat has reorganized their dining room area based on social distancing guidelines and implemented new protocols to ensure customers and employees feel safe returning to the space.
Among these, curbside pick-up will be available to those who prefer not to enter the restaurant.
“At the end of the day, HopCat is a bar," Sellers said. "It’s always been a place where people gather to have fun. To relax and socialize. That’s why it exists. That’s why it was created."
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