An organization of Long Island restaurants that offer outdoor dining are asking to be allowed to open now, saying they are confident that they’ll be able to meet safety guidelines resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a letter dated Monday, the Nassau and Suffolk Outdoor Dining Coalition noted that many of their restaurants are seasonal and that unless they can open soon, they fear that many of their restaurants will fail. Acknowledging health concerns and referring to the epidemic as “this horrible event,” the group nonetheless said they could open safely.
“We believe that people WILL patronize our establishments if we are permitted to open. We make this point because we do not believe it would hold true for indoor-only restaurants or other venues like movie theaters at this time. If an Executive Order permitted such activity on Long Island, we think it is a safe betthat people would lack the confidence in ANY safety measures undertaken and
simply would not come. Because our business is conducted in the open air and primarily in the light of day, people will respond, and we are confident that we can serve them safely.”
“America & Long Island must reopen and now. The Nassau-Suffolk Outdoor Dining Coalition represents some our best, most prominent restaurants, employing thousands of Long Islanders. They need & want to return to work, and that is why I’m proud to be working with them. It’s time for the Governor & our County Executive’s to fast forward a plan for these businesses,” said Tom Kehoe of Northport, CEO of Kingsbridge Strategies.
They also wrote, “Our number one goal is to prevent ANY communication of this disease on our premises. Our food and beverage professionals are trained, certified and familiar with current DOH regulations and requirements. We will simply add to the list of what they already know and practice,” citing Covid-19 guidelines.
The letter was also sent to members of the Long Island “regional control room,” appointees of the governor who will monitor the reopening of the economy: Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Kevin Law, Director, Long Island Association, John Durso, Long Island Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, Eric Gertler, President & CEO, Empire State Development Corporation and Tracey Edwards, Long Island NAACP.
Signing the letter were:
American Beech Greenport, Bayside Clam Bar & Grill, Bracco’s Clam & Oyster Bar, Bohlsen Restaurant Group Claudio’s Greenport, Coral House on Milburn Lake, Crest Hospitality Group, Danfords Hotel & Marina, Del Vino Vineyards, Dover Group Drift 82, Dublin Deck, Fatfish on the Water, Gosman’s Dock, Restaurant, Greenport Brewing Company, H20 Seafood &
Sushi, Harbor Club at Prime, Harbor Crab Co., Harbor Head Brewing Co., Hudsons on the mile
The Inlet Seafood, Restaurant & Bar, Jetty Bar & Grill, JT’s on the Bay, LaCasa Cafe, Lessing’s Hospitality Group, Little Creek Oyster, Company Maliblue Oyster Bar, The Milleridge Inn, Millpond, Nicky’s on the Bay, Nicks on the Beach, Overlook Beach Club, Peters Clam House, Prime, Port Waterfront Bar & Grill, Rachel’s Waterside Grill, Restoration Kitchen & Cocktails, Rockin Fish, Salt Shack Seaside Grill, Salt Waterside Bar and Grill, Shipwreck Diner, Surf Shack,Teller’s American, Chophouse Sandbar, The Sands on Lido Beach, Waters Edge, Waterview Port Jefferson, Wave
Seafood/Steak, The Whales Tale, View Lessings Oakdale, and Tom Kehoe, CEO Kingsbridge
Strategies, INC.