MA restaurants react to new restrictions

They are mostly worried the new restrictions will scare off customers from coming to eat there altogether.

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WLNE) – Among the businesses affected by the newest round of Covid-19 restrictions in the Bay State are restaurants.

Those new restrictions will close businesses like restaurants by 9:30 P.M. to account for a new overnight stay-at-home order which begins at 10 P.M.

At Mediterranean Grill and Pizzeria in Attleboro, the owner tells ABC 6 he’s actually been preparing for new restrictions, and is starting a delivery service next week to supplement for the loss of their patio through the winter months.

“I believed that the new restrictions would come because the numbers of cases were rising,” said Owner Dorotheos Chatziioannou

Restaurants like Mediterranean Grill, Boneyard Barbecue in Seekonk, and many others, had already been operating on a reduced schedule since reopening this summer and closing before 10 P.M. during the week.

“My business is down 2/3 of what it was,” said Co-Owner of Boneyard Barbecue Bill Beggs.

Both restaurants will be losing an extra half hour or so on the weekends.

Beggs says they were planning to extend their hours in the coming weeks so they would close at 11 P.M., but won’t be able to anymore.

“I got to play mathematical magician to make the numbers work, to keep my business open,” said Beggs. “Which a lot of other small businesses are all playing the same game right now.”

Boneyard Barbecue is also planning to supplement the loss of their patio and is hoping to bring in more business by adding dividers between their booths, hoping that will help put customers at ease.

“It’s not only me here. It’s all of my employees, everybody,” said Beggs. “Their lives depend on it too.”

The new restrictions begin this Friday, November 6.

“I have my concerns that more restrictions will come in the next two months,” said Chatziioannou But the only thing that we can do is hope!”