With lower temps and COVID-19 restrictions, businesses push to ease indoor capacity limits

Hospitality Minnesota wants Gov. Tim Walz to increase indoor capacity in restaurants from 50% to 75%.

French Meadow Bakery and Cafe has locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The cold temperatures mean no outdoor patio seating, which has affected French Meadow’s Lyndale Avenue location differently than its Grand Avenue spot.

It’s been cold outside, which isn’t ideal for patio seating.

“My daughter texted yesterday and said she couldn’t believe it, customers came indoors, so we were packed inside, again 50%, social distancing the six feet,” said Lynn Gordon, founder and president of French Meadow Bakery and Cafe.

But it was a different story on Grand Avenue in St. Paul.

“Our manager said he had 10 cancellations yesterday, his guests are much much, much more hesitant to dine inside… Our labor was 50% yesterday. We had almost zero sales,” Gordon said.

Liz Rammer, president and CEO of Hospitality Minnesota, said the industry makes up one in 10 jobs in the state and there’s risk of more unemployment. And, more and more restaurants are at risk of shutting down without the opportunities ahead for patio seating.

“With the curtailment of outdoor dining, that’s about half of the revenue opportunity that will be lost, and right now these operators are sitting on a cliff of really looking at how they are going to survive and many have told us they’re probably going to be going out of business unless there’s some help,” Rammer said.

To try to gain patio business back despite the colder temps, French Meadow will get new infrared outdoor heaters, instead of propane, at both locations as well as build fire pits in Minneapolis.

Rammer said, “This cold snap certainly upends a lot of plans for really taking in some more revenue now with outdoor dining that is so attractive.”

Gordon said it’s the employees and customers at French Meadow who are keeping her hopeful.

“I wish I were that optimistic, as I’m on the verge of tears, you know it’s very hard, and all of the people’s lives lost not to mention business,” Gordon said.

Compliance teams with the Minnesota Department of Health conducted checks across the state, recently. Out of 167 establishments visited, 88 were following the safety and health requirements, 79 bars and restaurants were not in compliance, with minor violations, and 31 of those will have follow-up inspections. French Meadows said anytime it’s been checked, they’ve been found in compliance. MDH said inspectors saw that in some instances, businesses were making efforts to follow guidance requirements, but customers were not doing their part by refusing to wear masks, not social distancing and were moving tables and chairs to accommodate larger groups. MDH said this jeopardizes businesses.