OMAHA — Business owners in Nebraska are starting to plan their comeback, now that the governor has unveiled his plan to ease coronavirus restrictions.
Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday that he will relax restrictions in 59 counties including those in the Omaha area. The new orders, effective until May 31, allow restaurants to reopen their dining rooms but require them to keep crowds at or below half of their capacity. Dining parties will be limited to six people, buffets will remain closed and bars will have to keep their dining areas closed.
Ricketts’ plan also allows barbershops, tattoo parlors, salons and massage therapists to reopen, though they must adhere to social distancing precautions.
In Lincoln, across from the capitol, the rugs inside Billy's Restaurant remain rolled up and dining room chairs pushed in as Nader Farahbod's staff promotes cans of pop with dinner-hour take-out orders instead of $60 bottles of wine to dining parties, he said.
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Facebook has helped his family continue to operate the restaurant, feeding themed meals such as Friday's Persian Night cuisine and Billy's menu staples, and for that, he considers the restaurant fortunate, he said.
"We’re not going to buy a Mercedes Benz anytime soon, but we manage to pay the bills," Farahbod said Saturday afternoon.
Whenever his restaurant is allowed to open, he doesn't think he'll see as many patrons shaking hands with each other and more guests will likely come in wearing face masks, he said.
He's a little apprehensive about Lincoln relaxing its restrictions, too, and he's happy to have Omaha lead the way, he said.
"We can see how the curve works, but eventually we all have to come out of this," Farahbod said.
Paul McCrae, owner of Corner Kick Street Tacos and Tequila Cantina in Omaha, called the easing of restrictions a “life-saver,” especially with Cinco de Mayo the day after the reopening date.
“That’s a big day for us,” McCrae said.
But co-owners Kelsey Poulsen and Sarah Root of The Copper Pin Salon & Spa haven’t decided whether to open May 4. About half of the 14 staff members don’t yet feel safe to return, they said.
“We’re thinking about taking the hit financially and keeping it closed until we can figure out how to safely operate,” Poulsen said.
Ricketts, a Republican, didn’t order similar changes in the Lincoln area because local public health restrictions don’t expire until May 6. The restrictions in the Omaha area were set to expire April 30.
The orders also don’t apply to Hall, Dawson or Dakota counties, where virus cases have spiked at meatpacking plants.