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MUSKEGON, MI – It almost felt like a regular summer night on Monday, as many Muskegon restaurants welcomed diners back inside for the first time in nearly three months.
“No COVID-19, but we have coronas,” read the marquee outside of Racquet’s Downtown Grill, 446 W. Western Ave. “Welcome back, friends.”
Bars and restaurants across the state were closed for in-person eating on March 24, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued her first stay-at-home order, an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Although many transitioned to offering takeout and delivery only – and some even resorted to selling their stock wholesale – it has been a challenging 11 weeks, said Judy Hissom, who co-owns Dr. Rolf’s Barbecue, 477 W. Western Ave.
“It’s like learning how to do your business all over,” she said.
Her restaurant attempted to stay open for three weeks when the shutdown first came down, she told MLive, before they closed entirely because “things were so uncertain.”
On Monday, June 8, that restriction lifted – although dining rooms can only be at half capacity. So some eateries are attempting to move some of their business outdoors, to expand their serviceable footprint.
In late May, the city of Muskegon approved a plan that will allow restaurants to apply for outdoor dining permits – which can also allow them to seek permission to serve booze outside.
For some six hours on Monday, volunteers prepared downtown Muskegon for the big day. Standing 6 feet apart – but, for the most part, not wearing masks – they swept streets and pruned greenery, and set up picnic tables outside of several bars and restaurants.
Hissom spent Monday preparing for a Tuesday reopening day. Dr. Rolf’s reopened for carryout in mid-May – and just when they felt like they’d figured out that process, Hissom said, they got the all-clear to reopen for good.
“It’s taking it day by day, figuring out what’s going to work with staff, what’s going to work with customers,” Hissom said of this latest readjustment.
With tables set up outside, Dr. Rolf’s is still able to offer as much seating as they previously did in their dining room, Hissom said. Margins are always tight in the restaurant industry, she said, but this summer, “you’re definitely watching numbers differently” in trying to account for so much change, and so many new costs, including protective gear and an unprecedented number of takeout containers, she said.
“The community’s been really, really supportive,” she said, referring to those who came out to prepare Western Avenue for the reopening, as well as the city, which has provided tables. “I can’t say enough about that support.”
By evening on Monday, Western Ave. was shut off to traffic between 4th and 5th Streets, allowing patrons to spill out onto the street.
Jim Noel, who owns Top Shelf, a pizza restaurant and bar, said he was surprised at how busy his Western Ave. location was by lunchtime. By dinner, he said, staff was better prepared for the crowds.
“People were happy to go back out,” he said. “I think that … this weekend is going to be extremely busy as well.”
Noel, who also owns Capone’s and 794 Kitchen and Bar, both in the Northtown 794 building, at 794 Pine St., said that he’s been rearranging seats to maintain distance, and training staff on their requirements.
Some bars, including downtown’s Mike’s Inn, 545 Western Ave., and Marine Tap Room, 1983 Lakeshore Dr., and Lakeshore Tavern, 1963 Lakeshore Dr., both in the Lakeside neighborhood, were open well into the night.
With patrons and music spilling out onto the sidewalk, a passerby could almost mistake this extraordinary Monday for an ordinary summer night.
Restaurants will continue to slowly reopen throughout the week. On Western Avenue on Tuesday, Rad Dads’ Taco & Tequila Bar, located inside Mercy Health Arena, 470 Western Ave., had rolled open its windows as customers enjoyed tacos and Corona-brand beer on the sidewalk.
When asked what brought her out, customer Lisa Musgrave cited the long weeks of staying at home.
“The fact that we can get out of the house and feel safe,” she said.
MLive Multimedia Specialist Alison Zywicki contributed to this report.
Read more on MLive:
Breakwater at Muskegon’s Pere Marquette Park is walkable again, after months of repair work
Construction to close several roads in Muskegon County in coming days
Muskegon County announces when services likely will reopen
Farmers’ bounty distributed for free in ongoing Muskegon area relief effort
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