OCEAN CITY, Md.- No parade, no problem. The Ocean City version of rolling with the punches with St. Patrick’s Day coming up on Wednesday.
Ahead of the holiday, Maryland restaurants and other essential business owners received maybe just a little bit of luck with the lifting of capacity limits as of 5 p.m. Friday. Mask wearing and physical distancing rules still apply.
The 45th Street Taphouse Bar & Grille opened to full capacity for a St. Patrick’s Day party with a portion of the proceeds going to Diakonia Inc., an emergency services organization. Owner Zev Sibony says having space is an advantage and a help to keep all guests safe.
"We are fortunate to be able to have the space to put extra tables and everything out in our parking lot and still accommodate our guests in a safe manner with everything still being spaced out," Sibony said.
Lines could be seen wrapping around restaurants and bars as early as 11 a.m.
Although the capacity limit is lifted in Maryland restaurants, Delaware still remains at 50 percent. Cathy Strozykowski of Selbyville thinks more people need to be vaccinated before increasing capacity.
"We just have to wait," Strozykowski said. "If they lift the restrictions, you know that is not helping people though unless you are vaccinated and wear your mask, still wear your mask and be safe."
Whether you were having your own celebration or supporting a local restaurant, people can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
