LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The entire business model of local restaurants is being tested. Some decided not to go with carry out and others turned on a dime right away.
Right along Market Street, Mayan Cafe has been idle for almost two months., but inside they have been planning for some big changes.
Yesterday Andy Beshear announced restaurants can open on May 22 with a limited indoor capacity of 33% and unlimited outdoor seating with the right spacing. That happened to be the same day owners of Mayan Cafe in NULU began to expand their space outside for the first time.
"Anybody that can figure out some kind of patio option is certainly going to be motivated to do so right now," said Anne Shadle, one of the owners. "For places that, I think if you can capture a little more with the patio, you know you can sort of balance it out."
While the extra seating may help bring in some more customers, Shadle says the date is too soon for them.
"It's just a really hard to make a one size fits all answer," Shadle said. If you're going out to forget, you know I don't think there is going to be quite the level, you know the lack of consciousness as people move around."
So aside from their expansion outside, they are pushing to re-envision a dining experience that's less worrisome and more enjoyable for customers. A plan Shadle says needs to be in order before letting customers and staff back into the building.
Starting next week on May 13, their food truck at Gravely Brewing will start doing carry out. On May 28, the restaurant will be doing unique packaged pick up meals. Providing different options to serve safely, while not putting all of their eggs in one basket.
"It's not just the same as our regular menu in carry out form, nor is it this sort of family-style quantities that people are doing," Shadle said.
They are still deciding on a reopening date, but Shadle says to stay tuned as they release their new patio and new ideas.
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