NYC restaurants and other businesses expand to 75% capacity

The rule applies to a variety of businesses that include restaurants, hair salons, barber shops, and other personal care services.

News 12 Staff

May 7, 2021, 10:57 AM

Updated 1,304 days ago

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Restaurants and other businesses can now open at 75% capacity in New York City.
The rule applies to a variety of businesses that include restaurants, hair salons, barber shops, and other personal care services.
This means New York City is finally on the same page following the same rules as the rest of the state.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference that it is time to loosen some restrictions put in place to protect public health and help local businesses. He called the fight against COVID-19 long and incredibly difficult and added that restaurants were some of the hardest hit businesses.
Cuomo hopes easing restrictions will put more money in the pockets of New Yorkers and business owners.
This Mother's Day weekend will be a test to see if there will be an economic boom as businesses make additional room for more customers.
Kokomo NYC is a Caribbean restaurant that opened when only takeout and delivery were options. The owner says he is thrilled for indoor dining to open up ahead of Mother's Day.
"If we were at 25% and it was Mother's Day, it would be very demoralizing. I wouldn't have that energy that I'm having right now. And I think that it's a beautiful thing for us to have these mothers come in with their children and families and be able to sit at a table of four, or table of eight and really feel safe and secure that things are going back to normal," said owner Kevin Graham.
Graham says the restaurant is now permitted to have a little more than 100 people inside with the new guidelines. Without restrictions 140 people would be allowed inside at once.