Savannah Restaurants Stick To Take-Out As Restrictions Ease

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Tequila's Town is one of many downtown Savannah restaurants staying open for to-go only even as the state allows dining rooms to reopen. / Tequila's Town Mexican Restaurant Inc. on Facebook

Georgia restaurants can offer dine-in service again Monday under Gov. Brian Kemp's heavily-criticized plan to ease coronavirus restrictions.Many downtown Savannah restaurants are sticking with take-out even as coronavirus restrictions ease.

Restaurants are limited to 10 diners per 500 square feet and cannot have salad bars or buffets, among other safety measures.

Some, including Waffle House, are opening their doors with the new rules in place. But many are not.

Jackie Schott is Executive Director of the Savannah Downtown Business Association.

"They are taking a financial hit, and they're still saying 'we wanna make sure that we are as certain as we possibly can that we have the right parameters in place to keep not only our staff but also the Savannah community safe,’" she said.

Schott said most restaurants that are open for takeout or delivery are sticking with that rather than opening their dining rooms.

Businesses like salons and fitness centers were allowed to open Friday, also under a set of rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Most of those remained closed in downtown Savannah as well, however, according to Schott.

“There have certainly been a few to open up,” she said. “And I will say those few I have seen, I feel like they’re taking more precautions than what they need to.”

Most downtown Savannah businesses, Schott said, plan to wait a little longer before opening their doors.