Restaurants navigate new COVID-19 restrictions as all dining closes

Local businesses told The Panther about the difficulty that comes with adhering to ever-changing COVID-19 regulations while maintaining a profit and satisfactory service. SAM ANDRUS, Photo Editor

Updated Dec. 7, 2:54 p.m. PT: After local restaurants in Orange County returned to outdoor-only dining after a Nov. 16 announcement from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, their businesses were then restricted further to takeout and delivery only as a result of a new stay-at-home order that went into effect Dec. 6 at 11:59 p.m. The surge in COVID-19 cases have caused intensive care unit capacity in Southern California to dip below 15%.

Within Orange County, the average daily case rate per 100,000 residents has increased to 22.2 cases as of Dec. 6, with the test positivity rate currently 8.8%. Both metrics indicate the country’s regression into the purple, “widespread” COVID-19 tier. With indoor and outdoor dining eliminated in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, local businesses are struggling with adhering to ever-changing regulations while maintaining a profit and satisfactory service.

“We are taking it one day at a time,” said Esteban Pedraza, manager of Citrus City Grille, a restaurant in the Orange Plaza Paseo. “Every day it changes; every week changes; every month changes. All we have to do is ride with it and take it as it comes.”

Since mid-November, Orange County has been joined in the purple tier by every other county in Southern California, halting the state from its reopening process. In addition to no dining at restaurants, indoor operations have also ceased at gyms, places of worship and movie theaters. 

In order to navigate changing restrictions, City of Orange closed down part of Glassell Street in July to move restaurant dining outside in the Orange Plaza Paseo, Orange Mayor Mark Murphy told The Panther Nov. 11. The Orange City Council will meet Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. to discuss the continued closure of Glassell Street, as well as the citywide outdoor and retail program.

Furthermore, the Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will not be enforcing Newsom's order, which will last at least three weeks.

“Orange County Sheriff’s deputies will not be dispatched to, or respond to, calls for service to enforce compliance with face coverings, social gatherings or stay-at-home orders,” Barnes wrote in a Dec. 5 statement.

Restaurants like Smoqued California BBQ, Citrus City Grille and Jaxon’s Chix Tenders are able to maintain business by facilitating outdoor seating areas adjacent to their storefronts, but the transition to takeout and delivery-only could prove detrimental to their eateries.

“There are a lot of restaurants that have closed their doors for good because they don’t have an opportunity like (outdoor dining),” said Taylor Bagley, general manager of Smoqued California BBQ. “Serving outside is our only option.”

Jaxon’s Chix Tenders is a new establishment that replaced Burger Parlor in May, but remains under the same owner, Joseph Mahon. Mahon, who opened the location during the pandemic, told The Panther that opening the location was incredibly taxing. However, Mahon said he was prepared for future COVID-19-related changes.

“I was the owner of Burger Parlor for almost 11 years, and I anticipated that there was going to be another shutdown,” Mahon said. “I anticipated that we would have to change our model completely. I’m prepared for (future changes).”

Local Orange restaurant managers and owners echo a similar theme; the future of their industry remains cloudy.

“I’m not surprised we will have to transition to takeout only,” Pedraza said. “Instead of taking two steps forward, we took two steps back.”