By: Ben Diiorio
Restaurants have had a difficult year as COVID-19 has derailed business operations. As the weather begins to heat back up and capacities increase, restaurant owners from around the greater New Haven area are preparing to invite more customers into their dining rooms and patios.
“I’m hoping business picks up with the warm weather,” said Vincenzo Beuontempo, owner of Donatos Apizza & Trattoria in Hamden. “We have extra tents, tables and chairs set up six feet or more away from each other to follow the usual guidelines.”
With the reopening of more dining space across local restaurants, restaurants are hopeful the financial boost will help them recover from last year’s downturn. The increased customer capacity from this reopening will allow for more menu flexibility and more recurring customers.
“With the warm weather comes sunshine and good attitudes,” said Joseph Hamboussi, manager of Prime 16 in New Haven. “It’s a lot easier to eat out when it’s beautiful. The biggest differences will be more people in the place. Tips are higher, people are happier, deliveries go down.”
Not only will the morale of the restaurant increase as the weather gets better, but financial freedom is soon to follow. With less deliveries and more customer to staff communication, Prime 16 is expected to usher in more customers and more staff.
“With more people coming to eat at our locations revenue is going to increase,” Hamboussi said when discussing the seasons changing. “With more cash and tips, we’ll be able to hire more staff as a result.”
Restaurant owners aren’t the only ones who are looking forward to having a larger variety of culinary experiences and opportunities. Students at Quinnipiac University are also excited, seeing this as another step in the right direction.
“The warm weather always brings out the best in myself personally,” Cami Maturana, a senior Public Relations major, said. “I just hope everything can run smoothly so that we can take another step towards how life used to be.”
As the weather continues to improve across the northeast, changes are expected. Businesses are optimistic as summertime approaches and have more space and financial options. Even though COVID-19 has the ability to bring it all crashing down, people within the restaurant business remain optimistic as the area takes another step back to normalcy.
“We’re not making a lot of changes in terms of COVID protocols,” Hamboussi said. Tables will be 6 feet apart, the staff is more than prepared for this moment, and people are excited.”