Restaurant business starting to buzz again

Restaurant business starting to buzz again

Sd --- waay31 news new details.

After weeks of waiting -- restaurants across north alabama welcomed diners back inside for a friday meal out on the town.

However -- because of coronavirus restrictions, it was unclear just how well the dinner rush might go.

Waay 31's will robinson-smith spent the evening in athens where he spoke to restaurants and diners about their experiences.

It's a more quiet scene now in downtown athens, but for much of the evening, the seating at restaurants around the square was pretty consistently full of hungry folks.

Aaron may, athens resident this establishment's a little more quaint than a diner.

So it's our night to kind of have a little more of a romantic meal together where we can focus on each other.

That's important in our marriage.

After taking their kids out to eat on monday, aaron and lindsay may took the chance to have a more normal date night.

Up until now, they've been ordering take out more to help local restaurants.

Lindsay may, athens resident it might hurt our pocket a little bit, but we know we're doing our part in the community, so it makes us feel good about that.

Dozens of others flocked to athens restaurants to experience the new normal.

Some were thrilled at the idea of eating inside for the first time in weeks... dawn marcova, limestone county resident it's great to be able to have hot food that comes directly to your table, instead of taking home your styrofoam container and reheating everything in dishes.

Others were just happy to celebrate life events across the same table instead of zoom.

Tina jones, celebrating her birthday it is a little different, seeing everybody with the masks and taking more precaution usual, but you know, all in all, i think it's a pretty good environment right now.

Will robinson-smith however, just because all restaurants can open up their dining rooms, doesn't mean they all necessarily chose to.

Mozza pizza and sports bar decided to keep their dining room closed so they can watch and see how other restaurants opening up will affect the spread of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, wildwood deli owner matthew fisher says he's glad the city allowed restaurants to expand their outdoor seating to help with the new rules.

Matthew fisher, owner, wildwood deli i think they're going to give us four to six weeks of it, which is good.

Hopefully, this will be over in four to six weeks and we can go back to normal life where we can all come out and eat and stay as long as we want.

I checked back with matthew fisher after the dinner rush.

He says that the outdoor seating really helped with their final numbers tonight.

He also told me he's going to lobby the city to let them keep the curbside option after the pandemic is finished.

Reporting live in athens, will robinson-smith,