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Feb. 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Indoor dining in New York City will resume Friday — two days ahead of schedule, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.
Cuomo moved its reopening date two days ahead of what was originally planned. He had previously announced that it would resume on Sunday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.
Restaurants will be restricted to 25 percent capacity inside their dining rooms and must close by 10 p.m.
Cuomo said he decided to push the opening up so that restaurant owners and staff can prepare for Valentine’s Day weekend — typically a busy time for city eateries.
Restaurant industry leaders applauded the change of schedule.
“We commend Governor Cuomo for permitting indoor dining to resume in New York City on Friday, instead of Sunday the originally scheduled date,” Andrew Rigie, the executive director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, wrote on Twitter.
“This will allow restaurants to generate much needed revenue from the Valentine’s Day weekend business, much of which they would have lost because the holiday falls on a Sunday this year.”
