Westmoreland eateries brace for another round of restrictions

The extra marketing Jeanine DeGennaro did for her South Greensburg restaurant paid off while it was shut down.

Now DeGennaro’s Restaurant & Lounge faces another blow as state officials are expected to halt indoor dining and drinking in Westmoreland and surrounding counties for at least two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic. An official order from the state had yet to come Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s just very frustrating,” DeGennaro said. “I will survive this, but I shouldn’t have to do this.”

Like many other restaurant and bar owners, she hopes loyal customers will pull her through dark times.

Two Westmoreland County officials confirmed the state was expected as early as Thursday to put new restrictions on dining and gatherings in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington and Westmoreland counties as coronavirus cases in the region continue to rise.

One county official said Wednesday there had been no further update from the state. Nothing had been released from the governor’s office or state health department.

State officials are expected to limit outdoor dining at restaurants to no more than 50 customers and limit gatherings to no more than 25 people. The restrictions will be reviewed in two weeks.

They come a little more than a month since restaurants, bars and private clubs across the region were permitted to serve food and drink indoors for the first time since mid-March. Establishments, since June 5, have been operating under indoor capacity limits and requirements for mask-wearing and social distancing.

Allegheny County to allow outdoor dining

Outdoor dining at Allegheny County restaurants and bars will be allowed beginning Friday, according to revised covid-19 restrictions issued by the county Health Department.

Indoor dining and alcohol consumption will continue to be banned under the new, two-week order issued Wednesday.

Take-out and delivery of food and alcohol may continue.

Outdoor diners can order a maximum of three drinks.

Smoking will not be allowed, including e-cigarettes.

Outdoor seating is permitted until 11 p.m.

The revised restrictions will replace those that took effect last Friday.

Back in Westmoreland, capacity must be reduced by 50%, leaving less tips for bartenders and wait staff.

Jacktown Ride and Hunt Club in North Huntingdon is expanding its outdoor seating area, but dining there will be “totally weather-dependent,” manager Jacqueline Leancu said. The club is for members and their guests.

They’ll also be doing takeout service, something the club offered for a week before closing during the initial shutdown, she said. Business has been steady since reopening, but it’s been hard to retrain workers on the new regulations.

“This is going to be tough on the staff,” she said.

Daniel Ereditario is worried about whether he can keep the doors open at Grapeville Station.

“The new restriction means I’m pretty much going to be out of business if they keep this up,” he said. “How can you go two weeks without any income coming in?”

The Hempfield bar and restaurant was open for takeout during the initial shutdown, but Ereditario said he was cited twice and had his liquor license suspended. This time, he’s closing.

“We’re stocked up with food,” he said. “Does that last two weeks? What am I going to do with that?”

Sun Dawg Cafe in Greensburg put a few tables and chairs on North Main Street, but the reduced indoor capacity requirement has left the restaurant struggling, co-owner Rachel Flowers said. They will stay open for outdoor dining and takeout.

“On any given day, we were teetering on being down at least 30% of our regular sales, and the fact that we don’t have much outdoor seating is going to hurt us even worse,” she said. “It’s really scary.”

Flowers urged diners to patronize locally owned restaurants.

“Now, more than ever, it’s so important to support us,” she said.