From tossed chairs to dented heat lamps, Mother Nature gave her presence to restaurant owners on Monday.
“We actually had three, but unfortunately one of them was destroyed in a hurricane today,” said thirteen chefs and owner Anthony Camille, who bought the “igloos” he and his restaurant partner.
Small outdoor eating out has recently become a hot item in Farmington.
Chef Camille believes he is a safe selling point by supporting his staff during the epidemic.
“When I say the phone rings with a hook, it plays a hook for people who want to book.”
But last week, a new regulation was added to the state restaurant guide.
“No individual party and / or table igloos or other small hostages are prohibited at this time,” the regulation states.
This we talked about as a surprise for those owners.
“I think it’s like handcuffing an already handicapped industry, so many of us are struggling to survive.”
NBC Connecticut
The chef and Tyler Anderson, owner of Millrights in Simsbury, were planning to build seven more of these greenhouses, but their plans were put on hold until Monday afternoon when they received an exception from the state.
“What we’re focusing on is the ventilation in those vehicles and the fresh air coming into those formats. As long as there is ventilation to the extent of an indoor dining room, we will be comfortable with it, ”said David Lehman, commissioner of economic and community development in Connecticut.
Andersen said he’s glad his initial complaint on Facebook caught the attention of state leaders.
But, “My point is, if I weren’t a ‘celebrity chef’ and I had a mom and a pop restaurant restaurant rent, ‘” the celebrity chef said, putting his finger on the air quote.
He said the statewide decision is disastrous for many.
“So rest restaurants across the country and the state are spending rent money that doesn’t have to be tried and run and incidentally, the rule comes down,” said Anderson, who also owns a food truck Ta-Qui and provides food and Hartford’s Drink service for the Goodwin Hotel and the Black Hotel in New Haven.
During the governor’s COVID-19 press conference on Monday, Lehmann said he would work closely with the City Restaurant Association for solutions going forward.
Scott Dolch, executive director of CRA, said the association was “working tirelessly to work through working guidelines for all restrooms and establishments looking for closed houses outside this cold month.”
All of this Monday weather reminds us that outdoor dining is not ready for winter.
“We want to work with these rest restaurants rent and we’ll let them use and use what they’ve invested this week, but it’s really crucial in reducing ventilation spread,” Lehman said.
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