Businesses in The City of Racine are preparing to reopen Tuesday. Many have been shut down or partially shut down since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March. Last week, the city unveiled guidelines called “Forward Racine” to get the economy back up and running.
Many businesses can reopen with restrictions at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Racine was one of a few cities across the state that extended their own “Safer at Home” order after the state Supreme Court struck down the statewide order.
The Maple Table is a breakfast and lunch restaurant in downtown Racine. They have been barely getting by on takeout orders according to Manager Oscar Alejandre. The business was closed Monday, not for the holiday but to prepare to reopen.
“Tomorrow is a big day so we’ve been prepping,” said Alejandre.
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The business is taking precautions such as spreading out customers at tables on either side of the restaurant and expanding their cleaning procedures.
“The servers are going to have to wear face masks, they are going to have to wear gloves. They are going to have to clean the tables every time we flip a table,” said Alejandre.
Condiments normally on the table will also be removed.
Alejandre says, “Salt and pepper, none of that stuff. Basically everything is going to be served to them and if they ask for something we’ll bring it to them.”
Racine Mayor Cory Mason says, “Our local businesses have the same obligations as they reopen, to make sure their employees and their customers are safe from this virus.”
He also said if the data shows a spike in COVID-19 cases, the city may pull back on the order. He also said if a business not adhering to the rules is linked to multiple cases of COVID-19, they could be shut down.