INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — Hungry people fed up with being cooped up and sitting in drive-thrus returned to restaurant dining rooms and sit down meals Monday. Restaurants in most counties reopened for the first time in two months. Customers are finding out that dining out isn't what it used to be.
At one Greenwood restaurant, customers appeared to be taking the changes in stride.
The smaller than usual lunch crowd was still bigger than anything the Oaken Barrel restaurant and brewery has seen in two months.
Sean and Cami were among the first customers in line for the reopening.
"It's hard to not take the opportunity when it is there." Sean said. "I've been cooped up for a long time and I am looking for anything else to do."
Customers and employees are getting accustomed to the new normal. Half the tables are intentionally vacant. The other half are limited to parties of 6 or less. Employees must wear masks. Once tables are cleared they are sanitized. Utensils are wrapped in plastic. Disposable menus are printed on paper and you can't miss the giant bottles of hand sanitizer.
Waitress Missy Farris said she was more excited than nervous about the new rules, but the face mask will take some getting used to.
"I like smiling at people," she said. "I like talking to people and this is different." she said with a big laugh.
Owner Kwang Casey kept the doors open and employees working during the state mandated shutdown, by relying on carry-out orders. Even though business was brisk, income dropped 60 percent.
He has no issues with the new safety precautions.
"I am trying anything we can to keep our customers happy, myself happy, healthy, It is my biggest concern." Casey said.
After bleeding cash for two months, Casey figures the next two months will be crucial to his and other restaurants.
"You know, if we don't turn it around and go back to normal, I think there are going to be...you will see restaurants not coming back." he said.
Monday was a the first small step towards a comeback that business owners insist can't come soon enough.