'A Big Step Forward:' Ocean City Readies For Outdoor Dining

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Cafe faced the same obstacle as many restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. Sure, they could stay open and offer takeout. But the downtown business is about more than what's on its menu — it's about atmosphere.

Ocean City Cafe is among many New Jersey restaurants that can reopen for outdoor dining Monday. That will make a difference for the cafe on 9th Street and Central Avenue.

"Most of the business is from (people sitting at) our inside tables, and especially the outside tables get populated once it gets warm enough," said Ocean City Cafe co-owner Beth Reyna. "People like to sit outside and enjoy the sun and people watch."

Since mid-March, Governor Phil Murphy has ordered that restaurants offer takeout and delivery only. That cut into about 75 percent of Ocean City Cafe's revenue, Reyna said.

They had to lay off most of their employees for a short time, Reyna says. But some of them have returned. And now they're beginning to operate during their usual hours, rather than reduced times.

Ocean City Cafe recognizes the risk the coronavirus poses. They wrote on their Facebook page that it saddens them to know some of their at-risk friends won't be visiting this year.

But Reyna thinks allowing outdoor dining is a safe step in the right direction. Their tables are 6 feet apart, and they're disinfecting each area between customers.

"I think just being outdoors is a lot less risky that operating indoors and having kind of a recirculated air system going on," Reyna said. "I think it’ll be a big step. I hope that when it happens, all the infection numbers stay low and then we can have limited indoor dining soon."

Ocean City businesses still face a variety of obstacles though. Several main attractions that draw visitors to Ocean City, such as amusement parks, remain closed under the state's orders.

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The Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association conducted a survey in which all respondents said the continued closure of amusement parks would negatively impact their business. Read more: Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Call On Gov. Murphy To Reopen NJ

And not every restaurant can easily create space for outdoor dining. One proposed solution has been temporarily making part of downtown into a pedestrian walkway, with no car or foot traffic allowed. Read more: Ocean City Officials Look For Ways To Fix Financial Issues

Coronavirus closures and precautions have created a difficult climate for many businesses in Ocean City and throughout. Ocean City Patch created a business directory where owners can tell their customers whether they're open or closed, and how the coronavirus has affected operations.

Patch features the business directory every morning in our newsletter. Read more: Ocean City Businesses: Open or Closed? Let Your Customers Know

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