COVID-19: Santa Maria restaurant more than doubles in business since reopening

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Patty Driscoll is dining out for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic started.

"And I can’t wait to eat inside and be served," said Driscoll. "It’s like freedom. It’s like a weight has been lifted off your chest and it’s nice to see different people and it’s nice to socialize whether I know their names or not it’s just nice to socialize."

Moxie Cafe owner Robert Grimmesey says business has jumped by 75 percent since the reopening of indoor dining. But he’s making sure everything is done with extra safety precaution. "We opened our patio and all tables are 6 feet apart and we also opened our dining room so we made some changes physically to the restaurant."

While the re-opening of indoor dining has been running smoothly at Moxie Café crews have decreased occupancy by about half to ensure everyone’s health and safety.

Grimmesey believes as restaurants continue to allow more customers inside, nothing will ever be exactly the way it was before the pandemic. "It’s changed now and I think restaurants will continue to operate in this manner for quite a while which is totally fine with us you know as long as I keep the public safe and they can still go out and have a meal."

Which is exactly what Driscoll is about to have, "I’m looking forward to eating a good salad prepared by someone else because when somebody else makes it it always taste better."

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the reopening of businesses and dining in restaurants in Santa Barbara County on May 18, 2020.