Queens indoor dining can resume Valentine's Day, Cuomo says

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A bartender mixes a drink inside a New York City bar on Sept. 29. AP Photo/Kathy Willens

A bartender mixes a drink inside a New York City bar on Sept. 29. AP Photo/Kathy Willens

By David Brand

Queens restaurants can reopen their dining rooms starting Valentine’s Day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday. 

Cuomo said eateries devastated by COVID-related restrictions will be allowed to resume indoor dining at 25 percent capacity on Feb. 14 as long as new coronavirus cases continue to decrease citywide.

The state reimposed the ban on indoor dining in mid-December as new COVID cases surged across the five boroughs. The coronavirus can spread rapidly inside a restaurant, particularly as patrons doff their masks to eat and talk. 

But business groups in Queens said the industry needs indoor dining to survive as temperatures plummet. More than 1,000 Queens restaurants have shut down during the pandemic, according to the Queens Chamber of Commerce. 

Those that remain in business are “hanging on by a thread,” said Queens Chamber President Tom Grech.  

“The return of indoor dining at 25 percent capacity on Valentine's Day will be a massive relief to restaurant owners, who look forward to welcoming back their loyal and supportive customers,” Grech said. 

He urged Cuomo to set more ambitious reopening targets like 50 percent capacity by March 1 and 100 percent by St. Patrick’s Day. 

The New York City Hospitality Alliance, which sent a letter to Cuomo decrying the “never-ending restrictions” on indoor dining Wednesday, called on the governor to open indoor dining immediately.  

“Restaurants are broken-hearted that they have to wait two weeks until Valentine’s Day,” the trade group said in a statement.