Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano in Naperville has seen a steady increase in revenue in the four weeks since the state allowed the return of limited indoor dining, general manager Steve Siman said.
Being able to use 25% of the restaurant’s inside space in addition to its outside patio has helped revive the business, Siman said.
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Whether that continues is what has him worried, he said. A ban on indoor dining goes into effect Wednesday in Will County, which includes the southern portion of Naperville and Biaggi’s location in Naperville Commons near Route 59 and 95th Street.
The restriction is in place because the county registered COVID-19 test positivity rates of 8% or higher for three consecutive days.
Other restrictions also being implemented include a limit on social gatherings to 25 people or less or 25% of a room’s capacity, a mandated 11 p.m. closing time and removal of all bar stools. The rules will be in place for a minimum of two weeks.
Biaggi’s is bringing in a large tent to augment its outdoor dining, but that may not be an appealing option to diners when temperatures are forecast to be in the 90s for the next few days, he said.
“Right now we don’t know what to expect,” Siman said. “It’s just another gut shot.”
He’s not alone in that feeling. Restaurant owners and managers up and down Route 59 and in other parts of Naperville that fall within Will County are worried about how the restrictions will affect their bottom lines.
John Vourtsis, who owns Johnny’s Red Hots on Route 59, said his restaurant does a lot of to-go orders but the loss of indoor dining is still going to hurt.
“Especially because now this is only Kendall and Will (counties),” Vourtsis said. “People can just go down the street to DuPage and get what they want.”
Vourtsis has two tables set up outside and roped off tables inside in order to abide by distancing guidelines, but he’s seen the problems being caused by bars and restaurants that haven’t been enforcing the rules and have let overcrowding occur, he said.
Most of the patrons at Paris Bistro in Naperville Crossings have been choosing to sit outside because of the nice weather, owner Gabriela Trejo said. But if Will County can’t curb the spread of COVID-19 and restrictions on indoor dining carry over to the winter months, she will have to decide if she will switch back to a carry-out-only setup again, she said.
Paris Bistro seats probably fewer than 10 people inside on weekdays, slightly more on weekends, but has benefited from its covered back and side patios to block the sun and rain, Trejo said. She may add heaters outside for some of the cooler months, she said.
Despite her luxury of outdoor space, she’s not happy that people aren’t wearing masks and staying socially distanced. She’s had to turn away some patrons away because they refused to put on a face covering, she said.
“People should just follow the guidelines,” Trejo said. “It’s not hard to wear a mask to make sure everyone stays safe.”
Siman said he’s observed shifts in how people have been dining out, and that might be affected by the restrictions.
Mondays has gone from being the restaurant’s slowest day to its third busiest, behind Friday and Saturday, he said. And while business typically slows in September with the start of school, that may not be the case this year because most students will be doing remote learning and parents will be working from home, he said.
The fortunate thing for Biaggi’s is about 35% to 40% of its revenue comes from carry-out, which is popular from about 4 to 6 p.m, Siman said.
They haven’t had to make reductions to staff other than furloughing employees at the beginning of the pandemic, but that may have to change if the indoor dining ban takes a toll, he said.
People who value being able to dine out or have a drink must wear masks and keep a safe distance apart to protect themselves — and those who work in the service industry, he said.