Some Point Pleasant Restaurants Not Ready Yet For Indoor Dining

POINT PLEASANT – Some Point Pleasant restaurants say they'll try – but they're not fully ready to resume indoor dining on Friday. Or even within the next week.

Marisa Tanner of Red's Lobster Pot said the state's requirement that no more than 25 percent of the indoor space can be occupied means the restaurant can only allow 10 people to eat inside.

"We are not in a rush to open the inside but will if we have bad weather because then we can move at least 10 people inside," Tanner said.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced that restaurants can open their indoor dining areas beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday. But he also has a long set of rules that some businesses say will be tough to follow. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Indoor Dining To Resume Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Paul Kanitra called the governor's move "a much needed step in the right direction for our small businesses that are desperately in need of revenue because of the pandemic."

"I hope patrons make smart decisions and everyone does their part to get things back to full capacity ASAP," he said. "The borough of Point Pleasant Beach will be doing everything we can to help in these efforts."

But Mike Frye of Frye Brewing in Point Pleasant Boro told Patch that he "didn't get enough notice to pull the trigger and open up inside this week."

"In fact, we've been really leery about opening up with restrictions. We have no interest in being the 'mask police,' "Frye said.

Frye told Patch that the business's tap room attendants are on unemployment from their day jobs "so we can't bring them back without jeopardizing that."

"It will be a few weeks, at least, and by that time we may see that it's not worth it once we see how it's playing out for others," he said.

Tanner said the season "has been a very difficult" but "we are hanging in and grateful for all of the support and customers who have come out to dine with us."