Restaurant Regulations During a Pandemic

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- March 18, 2021 3:00 p.m.

Life has been a roller coaster of emotions over the past year in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Just about a year ago, the pandemic hit areas of Allegheny County and spread to surrounding communities, beginning its journey across Pennsylvania and eventually the entire United States. At one point in time, our access to shopping malls, restaurants, and other non-essential shopping options were temporarily suspended in response to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.

Later that year, the CDC released guidelines to help individuals prevent the spread COVID-19 and businesses were able to reopen as long as these precautions were taken. One of the many things I enjoyed doing with friends and family pre-pandemic is eating and going out to restaurants. However, restaurants must abide to certain guidelines, which include mandatory facial coverings throughout the restaurant until the customer has been seated. Other forms of preventive measures include social distancing, along with more thorough cleaning measures to ensure the safety of customers in their restaurant.

My friend and I took a trip to the B&J Coney Island Restaurant down the street to see what types of measures have been put in place to help stop the transfer of COVID-19 in restaurants. Below are a compilation of pictures and videos that help translate the many steps the Coney Island Sandwich Shop is taking in order to keep its customers safe during this continuing struggle.

The Coney Island Restaurant is located in Slippery Rock, PA right off of Grove City Road near the Slippery Rock Giant Eagle. Customers are asked to sanitize their hands upon arrival, as well as upon exiting the restaurant to ensure a healthy and safe environment.

A sign posted outside the Coney Island Bar entrance communicates to customers the CDC regulations for bar seating, further explaining the need for a mandatory face covering when navigating throughout the restaurant and bar area.

https://youtu.be/qvIXVIH0TbY

The Coney Island Restaurant has a large selection of beverage coolers and drink options, providing bottled drinks, fountain drinks, and alcoholic beverages for customers to purchase.

A Slippery Rock Student, Emily Miller, can be seen wearing her mask inside of the Coney Island Restaurant before taking a look at the delicious menu options.

Coney Island Restaurants took COVID-19 preventative measures with the use of a plastic shield at their check out counter, social distancing markers on the ground, as well as disposable paper menus to limit the number of high-contact surfaces.

https://youtu.be/3OMETnMrjxo

My roommate, Emily Miller, and I sit down to eat the food we ordered and we can now remove our masks because all of the booths are 6-feet apart and social distance friendly.

All in all, B&J Coney Island Restaurant as well as many others took endless amounts of precautionary measures in order to keep their restaurants running, but also keeping them safe. Through the use of social distancing practices, facial coverings, and frequent cleaning procedures, restaurants are able to continue making customers happy on a day to day basis, while maintaining the entertaining atmosphere that comes with the experience of eating out.