Bumper Tables Allow Patrons To Safely Dine At Ocean City Pub

OCEAN CITY, MD — It's difficult to maintain social distancing in places like the grocery store, let alone in closer quarters such as a restaurant or a bar. That's especially true when people refuse to follow the aisle arrows. But one establishment in Ocean City has come up with a way for its patrons to socialize safely when the time is right.

Fish Tales Pub bought bumper tables for customers to stand inside once bars and restaurants are permitted to reopen in Maryland. The tables are custom-made and outfitted with an inner tube. They also have wheels for easy mobility. They were manufactured by Revolution Event Design and Production in Baltimore.

The concept is simple: customers stand in the hole cut out in the middle and walk around talking with others while remaining 6 feet apart. According to the Associated Press, the tables can accommodate customers' heights of about 4- to 6-feet tall.

“We wanted to come up with a creative and fun way to keep everyone safe and compliant, but still bring back the social and festive and party aspect of the event,” Erin Cermak, chief executive officer of Revolution Event Design and Production, told the Baltimore Sun.

Shawn Harman, owner of Fish Tales, and his wife have purchased 10 bumper tables from Cermak's company. Harman told the Associated Press he plans to order an additional 40 tables so customers can dine and remain distanced while eating in the restaurant’s parking lot.

“If you come in to get a pound of shrimp and a beer, you can stand in one of these and walk around and look at things and talk to people,” Harman said.

When Harman, family and friends took the tables for a test run outside his restaurant Saturday, he said the response was terrific. He's received calls from other restaurants across the country wanting to know how they can obtain some, too.