Many MCCC students work in foodservice and since stay-at-home orders were put in place back in March they have been fighting to keep their jobs while local restaurant owners have been fighting to keep their businesses afloat.
In addition to delivery and curb-side pick-up as options for diners, restaurants have also turned to outdoor dining to increase their revenue. As more has been learned about covid-19, it has become clear that being outdoors, in well ventilated areas and at a distance, is less risky than social gatherings of other kinds.
With that in mind, New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy allowed restaurants to open for outdoor dining back in mid June, albeit with many safety precautions in place. Then, with constant pressure from bar and restaurant owners, especially ones at the Jersey Shore, Murphy opened up indoor dining just before Labor Day.
Samantha Campisi, a student at Washington University at St. Louis who is from Princeton and is taking classes at MCCC this semester, has been working as a server at Princeton’s historic pub the Alchemist and Barrister since before covid and is back there now.
She says they were fortunate to already feature outdoor dining on their covered patio, but nonetheless, covid has made many changes necessary. Indoor seating is capped at 25%, and customers indoors must be masked unless seated at the socially distanced table. No touch hand sanitizer dispensers are now at both entrances.
Many of the resulting differences are by now, expected. According to Campisi, previously the restaurant and its two bars were “a much more crowded environment. Now we try to distance the tables as much as possible and seat fewer of them. So obviously we have fewer people in the restaurant in general.” And, of course, “sanitization has definitely ramped up” she says.
In terms of her personal safety, Campisi says, “I feel safe, the staff is always wearing their masks, we try our best to make sure we are washing our hands as often as we get the chance. The people who are working there are taking as many precautions as possible.”
Are the customers complying with restrictions? According to Campisi it depends. “Some customers are extremely cautious, they put their masks on as soon as the server comes up to the table, just to be extra protective. Other customers, not so much. Some customers come in and walk up to the bar, and might not have their mask on, and we need to tell them to put in on. The vast majority of the time I believe customers are respectful of our Covid policies, but it’s just the occasional person who comes in and doesn’t want to put their mask on,” Campisi says.
But covid-19 cases are on the rise in New Jersey again with a +44% increase in the last two weeks according to statistics maintained by the New York Times and the office of the governor, and state Commissioner of Health Judith Persichilli says the state is “anticipating a second wave” that could turn into a “surge” if residents don’t keep up with masking and distancing protocols.
Nationwide cases are up too, with new cases topping 50,000 to 60,000 per day, approaching the record highs back in July.
It is not clear when or if Governor Murphy may shut down indoor dining again, but outdoor dining will certainly be impacted by the approaching winter weather even for people otherwise willing to take the risk of restaurant dining.
