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For many restaurant owners across the country, reopening won't be as easy as flipping a switch and resuming business as usual. According to a new study conducted by the James Beard Foundation, 90 percent of restaurants say they'll need up to four weeks to reopen. And that's just scraping the surface.
The survey—which collected responses from 1,010 owners, operators and managers—also unsurprisingly revealed that restaurants will need a big influx of cash to get their business back off the ground. Just over 50 percent of owners said they need somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 "beyond what they are currently spending to re-open their restaurants," according to the survey.
The most anticipated reopening expenses include obvious stuff—like purchasing food and beverage and paying rent—in addition to new needs, like buying personal protective equipment for their staff. Additionally, many operators are currently saddled with past-due expenses on vendor invoices and rent that they haven't been able to pay while temporarily shuttered.
But more than money, 90 percent of owners who are considering reopening noted that their primary concern is the health and safety of staff and customers. It's worth noting that this worry includes the "uncertainty around the ability to consistently access special equipment including masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer."
On the safety front, owners also reported needing more information on how to redesign their spaces and craft social-distancing policies for their customers. And while most states are limiting restaurant and bar capacity to less than 30 percent to start, owners say they need to have at least 50 percent capacity before they consider reopening.
Take a closer look at the survey results from the James Beard Foundation and explore how Time Out cities across the USA are approaching the reopening of restaurants and bars:
New York: When will restaurants reopen?
Chicago: When will restaurants reopen?
Chicago: When will bars reopen?
Los Angeles: When will restaurants reopen?
Miami: When will restaurants and bars reopen?
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