INDIANAPOLIS — Monday was the first full day of rolled back coronavirus restrictions for bars and restaurants in Indianapolis.
Bars can seat up to 50-percent of their bar-top and indoor seating capacity. They can also be open until 2:00 a.m. Restaurants are now able to seat 75-percent of their indoor seating capacity. Chris Martin is the VP of operations at The Tap in downtown Indy.
“The extended hours will be a big help certainly on weekends,” Martin said. “Capacity will help weekends as well, but I think every day.”
But, he is not expecting every available seat in his bar to be filled right out of the gate. For now, Martin said the plan is to stay open until 1 a.m. during the week and 2 a.m. on weekends, but it all depends on demand.
“Almost every night, we’ve had to go on some kind of wait,” he said of the days under the previous restrictions. “Ten percent (increase in revenue) would be a huge deal for us and everybody I think.”
That’s what he is expecting to be taking in with the increased capacity being allowed by the city and the county health department.
One restriction Martin said he hopes is lifted soon is the six-person limit per table because many of the surrounding counties are up to 10 people per table.
