LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Opening the drive-through window in her building was never part of Yaya Pastrana's plan when she opened Milantoni in a former Wendy's building. But the feature became a necessary part of the restaurant's business the last few weeks as it has had to adapt after the coronavirus pandemic forced it to close its dining space.
"You know, we were never expecting that," Pastrana said. "We had never planned on ever using it."
But the drive-through could again be a thing of the past as Pastrana and other Kentucky restauranteurs prepare to reopen their dining spaces next Friday.
"We are looking forward to that date. We are trying to accommodate and change with all the laws," she said. "We want to keep everyone safe."
But it won't be a full-scale reopening right away. Restaurants can open their dining areas on May 22, but they will be limited to only a third of their regular capacities inside. There is, however, no limit to outdoor seating and Jeffersontown Mayor Bill Dieruf wants to make that space even bigger for restaurants.
"They won't come if they don't feel safe so outdoor dining is absolutely probably the safer way to go because you've got fresh air, you can take the tables and move them apart and be safe," Dieruf said.
Dieruf will be signing an executive order Friday to allow Jeffersontown restaurants to expand their outdoor seating space by using parts of their parking lots and other space as long as CDC and state guidelines are met while also keeping customers safe from traffic.
"The only thing that was restricting many of our restaurants is the planning and development and zoning that curtailed them, not anything to do with the coronavirus," he said.
Restaurants that share parking or use parking which is not in the immediate vicinity of the business may still use those spaces if the landlord allows, and canopies may be used without walls. All areas must comply will CDC and state guidelines, and fire lanes must be maintained.
Several Jeffersontown restaurants said they do not have any plans to expand outdoor seating for now, but Pastrana said everything is on the table for Milantoni. While her restaurant does not have a patio or regular outdoor seating, she said if the demand is there, setting up seating space outdoors could be a possibility.
"We will definitely be opening outside depending on how we see it, but yeah, we're willing to give it a shot," she said. "If anything, I would prefer outside - fresh air, have people come outside, enjoy the sunny day."
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