SOUTHERN ILLINOIS -- As southern Illinois enters Phase 3 of Gov. JB Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan, area restaurant owners have been busy preparing to begin serving "dine in" customers again, something that hasn't happening in area establishments since mid-March.
"We're excited," said Lynn Hill, co-owner of Bennie's Italian Food in Marion, as she watched her husband and co-owner, John, work with employees on Thursday evening to set up tables and chairs in the parking lot behind their Marion restaurant in preparation for dine-in service this evening.
Several Marion restaurants are planning to offer dine-in options including The Vault, Walt's, Don Sol, 618 Taphouse, La Fiesta, Buffalo Wild Wings, Pookie's, and Tower Square Pizza.
In a more rural setting of Williamson County, Walker's Bluff will reopen for dine-in guests in two areas of its winery, the Tasting Room and Legends Restaurant.
Over the past few weeks, WB conducted an extensive online survey, receiving input from customers, gathering nearly 400 responses.
"As a registered nurse who served many years in a clinical setting, I fully understand the gravity and potential impact of this pandemic," said Cynde Bunch, CEO and founder of Walker's Bluff LLC. "I also understand the benefits of time with friends and family enjoying a great meal and making memories, in-person."
Arranging outdoor seating areas and making preparations to serve guests under the new rules and regulations, WB will open the Tasting Room from noon until 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Legends, which offers fine dining, will be open on Saturdays from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m., and Sundays, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
In the northern part of the county, Andresen's Café, a staple of Johnston City's main thoroughfare for nearly a century, took advantage of the pandemic closure to expand, including the purchase of two vacant lots adjacent to the building, where owner Anthony Spiller is setting up an outside dining space.
"We'll be able to start Friday (today)," said Spiller, noting he's already working on the next phase of Illinois' reopening.
"We have been under some construction while we are down," he said. "We have purchased this building and have gutted it out. I am currently working as hard as I can to put it back together so I can expand the dining once we open up. With both buildings I will be able to hold what I was able to before COVID with the guidelines and almost double our seating once this is all over."
Marion Mayor Mike Absher took action last week intended to help Marion businesses accommodate guests under the new guidelines for the reopening.
Absher issued an executive order that designated public property and any private property owned or leased by a bar or restaurant in the city can be used by the public for the consumption of food and alcoholic beverages purchased via curbside pickup.
The use of space will be for a maximum of 60 minutes. The hours of operation are limited to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Du Quoin leaders took similar measures.
The city of Du Quoin is making it as easy as possible for local restaurants to embrace outdoor dining, going as far as closing a downtown street to permit outdoor tables, and permitting tents and sidewalk seating to spring up.
At Alongi's Italian Restaurant, there is room for 36 customers on their outdoor patio.
Servers wearing masks and gloves will bring food and drinks to diners from 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
"There are a lot of people who want to come back," said Guy Alongi, a third-generation owner of the restaurant which has been in Du Quoin 87 years. He also shares a name with the mayor of Du Quoin, but they are not the same person.
Alongi's Restaurant has been using their drive-through window since the COVID-19 crisis began, and still will.
Alongi asks that customers call to make a reservation before coming to the restaurant.
On the other side of Main Street, the St. Nicholas Brewing Company has struck a deal with the Du Quoin State Bank to use the bank's parking lot after bank hours for outdoor dining and a beer garden.
To help them out the city is closing Cherry Street from 5 to 10 p.m. each evening.
Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi said the city will do what it can to help local businesses reboot.
"We're going to suspend all the ordinances that prevent putting up tents or having sidewalk dining," he said. The city council is having a special meeting at noon Friday to lift those restrictions.
"We need to allow business to start operating again," Alongi said.
Sidewalk seating will help those restaurants and bars that do not have patios or spacious parking lots to turn into outdoor seating, like the Eagles Club and Kalin's Cafe.
St. Nick's owners are also gearing up for dine-in customers at The Landmark in Chester, according to Abby Ancell.
"We are reopening!" exclaimed Ancell, who said her staff at both locations has been working tirelessly to adjust to the "new norms."
The Landmark will have limited outdoor seating and one-hour timeslots available for dining to ensure proper sanitation between guests.
"This is all new to us," said Ancell. "We are trying new ways to make the experience safe and enjoyable."
Ancell said the health and safety of both their staff and customers is the top priority.
"Our staff will be wearing masks and we are taking every recommendation from the CDC and our local health departments seriously and all the necessary precautions to maintain a safe environment," she said.
Ancell added that reservations are "highly recommended.
In Harrisburg, at least one eatery is gearing up to feature outdoor dining beginning May 29.
David Dennison, who owns Morellos Restaurant and Catering together with Mike Sumner, said the business will be returning to a normalcy of sorts.
"Well, the first thing is, we'll be back to normal hours," Dennison said. "We will be offering outdoor dining, with tables spaced the appropriate distance."
Morellos has had an outdoor dining patio, popular when the weather turns nice, but more temporary dining accommodations will be on hand Friday.
"We've put up one tent, and we're planning to add a second one," Dennison said. "Diners won't be required to wear a mask, because the tables will be arranged at a safe distance. Plus, it would be very difficult to negotiate wearing a mask while eating. Our servers are going to be vigilant about making sure social distancing is followed."
Carryouts and deliveries continue to be offered, he said, along with the convenience and safety of online ordering.
Harrisburg Mayor John McPeek said the city will work to make any temporary outdoor dining setups easier.
"The city of Harrisburg is following suit of several other southern Illinois communities and relaxing any restrictions that may be prohibitive for a restaurant to serve on a patio, in a parking lot, or any other area as designated by the state as properly sanctioned," McPeek said in a statement.
McPeek, who also manages Mackies Pizza in Marion, said at that location, he will offer some outdoor seating.
"I'll put a few tables out. Some people may want to use them," McPeek said. "I suspect that their popularity will be dictated by the weather. If it's hot, people probably will stick to carryout."
While many area restaurants have been able to remain open for carryout and curbside with limited staff, Spiller summed up what most are feeling.
"I'm just ready to get back to some form of normal," he said. "I want to see people's faces. All I've seen are to go boxes."
• Travis DeNeal and Renee Trappe contributed to this report.
