Restaurant Association of Maryland has plan in place for the restaurant and foodservice industry to reopen safely for dine-in customers, starting with outdoor seating
The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM), the only trade association that represents every segment of the foodservice industry in Maryland, is ready for restaurants and caterers to join 35 states in safely re-opening for dine-in customers, starting with outdoor seating immediately. While Phase One of Maryland’s “Roadmap to Recovery” is in effect, the restaurant and foodservice industry is not permitted to serve dine-in customers outdoors, despite other outdoor activities and retail having resumed.
RAM, in consultation with officials from the National Restaurant Association, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and University Food Science Representatives, has outlined a thorough set of guidelines and recommendations that fully addresses the safety of employees and the public while reopening restaurants. Starting with outdoor seating, the “Restaurants are Ready” plan recommends:
- The maximum total of dine-in customers at one time in any outdoor seating area shall be 50 people, regardless of physical distanced seating capacity.
- The maximum number of customers at any one outdoor table setting shall be six people.
- Customers will not be permitted to stand in the outdoor seating area and must be assigned a table.
“We strongly believe that permitting outdoor seating prior to Phase Two of Governor Hogan’s ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ plan is a smart, responsible approach allowing for the public to have a gradual return to dine-in options,” said Marshall Weston Jr., president & CEO, Restaurant Association of Maryland. “With Memorial Day Weekend a few days away, restaurants, especially those in destination locations such as Ocean City, will see a significant increase in customers. Allowing for outdoor seating will allow patrons to consume their meals in a safe and controlled environment, rather than receiving takeout and gathering in large groups in public spaces.”
Maryland is one of only a handful of states where the restaurant and foodservice industry has not received a timeline for reopening for dine-in customers. Under the current circumstances, Maryland’s restaurant and foodservice industry has lost approximately $1.4 billion in sales - $485 million loss in March and an estimated $915 million loss in April. Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, 150,000 restaurant employees in Maryland have been laid off or furloughed and 45 percent of restaurants in Maryland are closed due to the pandemic with a projection that 25 percent will close permanently.
Learn more about RAM’s reopening plan at www.marylandrestaurants.com/
About Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM)
The Restaurant Association of Maryland (RAM) exists to promote, protect and improve Maryland's foodservice and hospitality industry. RAM leads by showcasing member restaurants, offering programs that reduce operating costs and advocating for the interests of foodservice businesses. RAM members includes more than 2,000 foodservice and hospitality businesses including restaurants, caterers, bars & taverns, food trucks, grocery stores, hotels and other businesses that serve food.
