Is your restaurant among the many businesses that were forced to close in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic? It is time to reopen even with the current third wave of the pandemic, which has taken a toll on many lives. At least business owners are asking themselves if it is time and how they will do so without any issues.
Many restaurants across the globe fell victim to heavy financial burdens that put them out of business for months. Many restaurants had no other option, from lockdowns and stay-at-home orders to limited access to clients but close their doors to potential clients.
While many business owners are looking at how they can adapt to the new post-COVID-19 era, they are still ensuring to practice caution and overall safety.
It is not easy or straightforward as many people think it is to obtain the right design and protocols to ensure safety, security, and the patrons’ overall health who visit a restaurant. Remember that it is far from easy but it is quite possible.
There is light at the end of the tunnel as quarantines phase out slowly yet steadily. This is the time to plan for your grand reopening as life in the neighborhood begins to establish a sense of post-crisis normalcy. Here are the guidelines to follow whenever you want to open your restaurant after COVID-19.
Keep All Your Spaces Clean and Sanitized
Whether your restaurant was closed for months or weeks, cleaning must be the first step to follow when you make a move to reopen your restaurant.
These steps will come in handy:
- Do a thorough cleaning both on the back-of-house and front-of-house
- Ensure that the seldom touched locations are cleaned and sanitized
- Pass your sanitizer under the countertop and point of sale equipment
- Do a thorough washing for all your food prep items
- Sanitize your shelving before you restock
A Key Part of Post-Covid-19 Era Restaurant Design is to Adhere to Social Distancing Requirements
The next critical part of restaurant design as people choose to move forward in 2021 is to ensure to establish social distancing.
Social distancing is the new normal. You will need to make a proper redo on the manner in which your clients will interact in your restaurant as a way of fostering safety. Here are the steps to follow if you want to maintain social distancing protocols in your restaurant.
- Ensure that individual seats are placed 6 feet apart- you may set barriers if necessary
- Try to reduce the number of tables in your serving area
- Maintain a barrier between your staff and customers as much as you can
- Establish a pattern that your customers must follow in your restaurant to minimize proximity
- Adopt touchless technologies
- Resort to disposable paper menus
These are a few simple aspects and elements to pay attention to in the new era.
Make the Most out of Delivery and Takeout
You don’t want your restaurant to be the epicenter of coronavirus disease in the local area. Adopt a business model that encourages non-contact takeout and deliveries. Resort to serving your clients with meals that have multiple portions as a replacement of individual entrees.
Ensure that Your Staff Has The Necessary Training
Your sense of normal must change at this moment following the crisis. Give your staff the training they will need to adapt to the changes you have adopted for your restaurant. To start, be sure your employees have their permits in place, and if needed, enroll them in an online food handler card training to meet your state requirements.
These strategies could go a long way:
- Increase your staff population that will help you meet the demands for sanitization, cleaning, and customer service
- Train your employees on the new social distancing and cleaning requirements
- Make frequent washing and glove-wearing a routine practice
- Educate your staff on the need to protect your clients
- Make it a necessity for your employees to be healthy when reporting to their stations
- Offer training on the new contactless customer service procedures
- Ensure that each employee has the necessary food handler’s license.
These are all necessary as you approach the new world. These tips help you survive, thrive, and cover your bases as you seek to navigate a new era.
