Rhode Island Dolls To Start Stripped-Down Outdoor Dining Service

WOONSOCKET, RI — Rhode Island Dolls revealed it is open for business starting Thursday night.

Just not in the business of being too revealing.

While the Woonsocket gentlemen's club proclaimed "We're back. We missed you!" on social media, ownership has assured that the club will be open for outdoor dining only, with no "entertainment" in phase one of the state's economic reopening.

Drinks and dinner will be served outside in line with state regulations in an effort to help staff that has been out of work for two months since bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues were shut down due to the coronavirus health crisis.

"It's been tough for the employees to keep it rolling here and, you know, we gotta do something to help them get food on the table for their families," owner Andy Noyes told ABC6 TV.

The post states that there will be "NO Contact!" and that face masks must be worn.

Seating will be done by reservation only from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Noyes told ABC6 there will be 19 tables outdoors in the rear parking lot off Front Street with up to five people allowed at one table — which is in line with Gov. Gina Raimondo's phase one guidelines for the reopening of the state's economy.

"It's going to be different. We have to change the way we do things," Raimondo said on May 11 of general plans for outdoor dining in phase one, with strict social distancing rules. "We are trying to get things to be somewhat back to normal. But with different rules."

While Raimondo said during Tuesday's news conference she would address the timetable for indoor dining to resume at restaurants in phase two of the opening later this week, when various forms of entertainment can resume at bars, restaurants and music or dance venues is likely at least several weeks, if not longer, away.