Minnesota restaurant owners react to Walz's patio service-only plan

Bar and restaurant owners across Minnesota closely watched Gov. Tim Walz's announcement to bring back patio service.

The plan, which will go into effect June 1, will allow limited, outdoor seating at restaurants and limited capacity at salons and barbershops.

While a step in the right direction, some owners were hoping the governor would have allowed dine-in service.

"I'm beyond pretty disappointed," said Rob Dubnecay, owner of Chicago's Taste Authority in Minneapolis.

Beginning June 1, there will be outdoor dining only. Chicago's Taste Authority does have a patio.

"Now, great, you're going to open up patios, the problem is only 25% of restaurants have a patio," Dubnecay said.

Walz: Phased plan to reopen bars, restaurants, barbershops and salons starts June 1

The governor's plan says restaurant staff will have to wear masks and urges customers to wear them as well. Reservations will be needed on the patio, with no more than 50 people at a time.

"We've got 10 seats on a patio," Dubnecay said. "If we social distance, that's six. Six people sitting down is basically is no different than when we started this back in March."

Dubnecay wants customers to be allowed to sit at tables inside his restaurant.

"We can put barriers between them, we can put plastic between them, we can just space the tables out but let's give it a shot and back it up if it doesn't work," he said.