Brookline Restaurant Owners Hope Curfew Lift Signals Turnaround

BROOKLINE, MA — Restaurants will be able to stay open beyond 9:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 25 because the number of positive test cases, positive test rates and coronavirus hospitalizations are “all trending in the right direction," Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday.

Brookline restaurant owners say they hope the lifting of the curfew for businesses signals a turnaround, and will help build confidence among would-be restaurant goers.

"It's going to be awesome," said Gerry Finnegan who owns Washington Square Tavern. "It's going to give us the opportunity to have extra seating at night, even though inside the seating will stay at 25 percent capacity. It gives us the opportunity to survive."

Baker's announcement is welcome news for all Brookline businesses, Brookline Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Good Miller said.

"Though capacity limits remain in place, gaining a few more hours is a clear advantage," she said.

Tavern struggles

Finnegan said the pandemic has been terrible for the Washington Square Tavern. In March, when the state closed businesses he didn't know what to do, so he closed for a little more than two weeks to figure out next steps.

It was the first time in 21 years, we've closed," Finnegan said. "The only other time we closed was when the marathon bombings happened. The day that happened, and then when they were looking for the guy and the government told everybody to close."

Washington Square Tavern is known for staying open on holidays and during snow storms when no one else is open. When they reopened with take-out only, he shared proceeds from all sales with the entire staff until the restaurant reopened for seating on Memorial Day.

When the town let them build an outdoor deck in the summer, things looked up, he said, but in December town officials asked them to tear it down.

"Our revenue dropped 70 percent," he said.

They've since allowed them to rebuild the outdoor seating and put up heat lamps, and people still opt to sit out there, Finnegan said, adding that's key because the business model is such that people tend to show up for cocktails and then stick around for dinner.

Still, the relaxing of state restrictions has him hopeful.

"There's a light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "By May people are going to be more comfortable in going out, and by the time the vaccine has rolled out we'll be doing much better."

Beyond Brookline, relief

Director of Government Affairs for the Massachusetts Restaurant Association Steve Clark said the Tavern is not alone in feeling a weight beginning to lift.

"The 9:30 curfew was preventing restaurants from having the ability to get a '2nd seating,' which is a significant source of business, especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday," Clark said. "I know there are a number of places that were forced to lay off staff, as a result of the 9:30 curfew. This is a welcome change, and we look forward to the continued easing of restrictions."

In addition to lifted restrictions for restaurants, the governor announced lifted restrictions for health clubs, arcades, indoor and outdoor events, movie theaters, liquor stores and cannabis shops. However, the 25 percent capacity limit on most businesses will continue until at least Feb. 8.

“We believe that it’s time and OK to start a gradual easing of restrictions,” Baker said at a Thursday news conference announcing a new round of small business grants.

While COVID-19 numbers have improved in the past couple weeks, they are still significantly higher than when the stay-at-home advisory was instituted in the late fall. State health officials on Wednesday announced 3,987 new cases and 78 more deaths. There were 2,209 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, with 444 in intensive care.

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.