Port St. Lucie restaurants 'cautious but excited,' for dining areas to reopen

Restaurant owners in St.

Lucie County are optimistic that allowing to partially reopen will help them rebound from the slumping economy.

MONDAY.

WPTV NEWSCHANNEL 5CHRIS GILMORE SPOKE WITHRESTAURANT OWNERS THERE TRYINGTO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THECHANCE TO FINANCIALLY RECOVER.<< (NATS) JOSEPH SCHEIBELHUTHAS OPERATED THE HIGHWAY 55BURGERS SHAKES AND FRIES INPORT SAINT LUCIE FOR THE PASTFIVE YEARS.

A FORMER GENERALCONTRACTOR, HE CAN ONLYCOMPARE THE COVID 19 INDUCEDSLUMP IN BUSINESS TO THE 2008RECESSION.

IT WAS TOUGHBECAUSE I KNOW THEY DIDNWANT TO LEAVE BUT I COULDNKEEP THEM AND FORTUNATELY HEREI HAVENKEPT ALL HIS EMPLOYEES, BUTNOT ALL HIS BUSINESS HWAY 55HAS BEEN LIMITED TO DELIVERYAND TAKEOUT SINCE MARCH.

NEXTWEEK THEY PLAN ON OFFERINGOUTDOOR SEATING 6 FT APARTUNDER GUIDELINES.

THE HOPE ISCOME MONDAY LIMITED CAPACITYAND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BEENOUGH TO MAKE DINE INCUSTOMERS FEEL MORECOMFORTABLE.

AS FOR THECONCERNS OF RE-OPENING RIGHTNOW..

THERE IS A DIVIDE IHESITANT.

HESITANT BECAUSE YOUTHINK THERECOURSE IN MY OPINION.

ONCETHEY GIVE US AN ALL CLEAR.KINDA LIKE IN SERVICE WHENTHEY GIVE AN ALL CLEAR YOUSTICK YOUR HEAD OUT OTHERWISEI KEEP DOWN ." OTHERS SAY ITALL ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICES.

IFYOUCAN STAY YOUR BUTT HOME BUTIWANT TO EAT SCHEIBELBUT HOPESTO EVENTUALLY GET BACK TO A"NEW NORMAL".

I THINK WE NEEDTO GO INTO IT SLOW YOU KNOWPHASE 1 IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITYTO SEE THE OUTCOME IS GONNAEND UP TO BE IN PSL CG WPTV NC5