BETHANY BEACH, Del. - Under phase two of reopening in Delaware, restaurants are able to increase capacity to 60 percent. This has impacted local restaurants in different ways.
General Manager of Zoca Restaurant in Bethany Beach says business has been amazing. "At the beginning of June when we were at phase one with 30 percent capacity, we were literally doing July summer numbers, and that's with business in the restaurant at 30 percent. Carryout has been insane too," says Aaron Flory.
The Mexican restaurant saw immediate changes once phase two began, which allows bar seating to reopen with social distancing.
"That allowed us to put five more tables back in the restaurant and some barstools, still keeping 6 feet apart. Just yesterday on our first night of phase two, we had a wait for an hour-and-a-half, just for people to sit at the bar," says Flory.
DiFebo's has three restaurants, one in Berlin, Rehoboth, and Bethany.
"At 30 percent we could seat 42 people with social distancing, when we went to 60 percent with social distancing, we could seat 42 people. So it's not changing for us much, and that's for specifically here," says Jeff Osias, co-owner of DiFebo's restaurant group.
Osias says they have been operating in a very different way.
"So we set up a system that worked, so once it got working we could really make sure we were doing everything that we need to do to make sure that we were sanitizing and being safe, so we reopened the other two restaurants," says Osias.
Safety is a priority at DiFebo's.
"Please wear your mask. Really the reason why I wear my mask isn't for me, it's for you ... The laws are the laws, I'm doing whatever I need to do, taking the steps and following the rules because that is what we need to do," he adds.
UNDER THE GUIDELINES, CUSTOMERS MUST HAVE A RESERVATION, UNLESS THE RESTAURANT HAS A SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS CUSTOMERS WITHOUT A RESERVATION FROM GATHERING.