State of Florida recommends restaurants seat patrons on sidewalks, in parking lots

Florida wants to help restaurants maximize their ability to earn revenue when they get to serve diners on-site again starting May 4.

Officials know that requiring eateries to limit indoor seating to only a quarter of their capacity for now to prevent the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus "doesn't work" when it comes to making profits. So, Halsey Beshears, secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, on May 1 said his agency recommends restaurants maximize their outdoor seating. He pointed out that Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive order allows restaurants to seat as many outside tables as they want so long as they're six feet apart. A restaurant's employee count does not factor into the 25% limit, Beshears said.

"We're suggesting to move those tables outside," Beshears said May 1 at a meeting for Orange County Guidelines For Reopening working group. "Maximize what you can outside. Humidity, ventilation and temperature are all detrimental to any influenza — including Covid-19."

Beshears said he encourages restaurants to add tables onto sidewalks and into parking lots as long as they're working with their local jurisdictions to approve these changes. "Right now, it's not going to jeopardize their liquor licenses," Beshears said. "Let's not overthink it and realize it's a short-term solution."

However, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said local restaurants can not add more tables outside their establishments unless they get permitting approval, Demings said. Placing tables outside would be subject to rezoning and can't be done without a permit, he said.

Biggest employer

Retailers and restaurants are important to the region's economy.

The leisure and hospitality industry — which includes restaurant workers — is metro Orlando’s biggest employer and supplies about 20.4% of the region’s jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. In total, the industry accounts for about 280,000 jobs.

Many restaurateurs are seeing the new executive order as a way to restart their business, said Cindy Schooler, senior vice president and market leader for Dallas-based SRS Real Estate Partners. It's going to take time to bring back staff, sort out the supply chain and implement other safety and sanitation methods.

In addition, this restart time is important to get consumers comfortable with dining out publicly.

"It's more psychological than revenue," Schooler said of restaurants' expectations. "Twenty-five percent [indoor seating capacity] won't change the game that much. But it's going to help."

Reopening guidelines

The Orange County Guidelines For Reopening working group recommended May 1 retailers and other businesses reopening follow these guidelines:

Practice social distancing.
Stay home when feeling sick.
Wear protective face covering.
Conduct health screenings.
Sanitize and wash hands frequently.
High-risk individuals should shelter and work from home whenever possible.
Recommend temperature checks for all staff. If there's a temperature of 100 degrees or above, they must go home.

Orange County's Guidelines For Reopening working group is tasked with making recommendations to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings as the county begins to reopen in the wake of the pandemic. The next Orange County Guidelines For Reopening meeting will occur 9 a.m. May 4. Click this link if you're interested in watching live or previous meetings.

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