With huge debate about whether social distancing measures should be relaxed across the USA, new scenes have emerged of packed American restaurants reopening. With a combination of good weather and Mother’s Day celebrations, people started venturing out in droves over the weekend.
While some states still have strict lockdowns in place, others are well on the way to be fully opening as they were before. In viral videos and photos shared on social media of customers flocking to restaurants, face masks, social distancing and any semblance of fear are all absent…
Packed American Restaurants are Reopening
There was uproar after a restaurant in Colorado Springs opened for a Mother’s Day brunch. All restaurants in Colorado are under orders to close for dine-in until May 31st at least. One report describes the scenes in the video below…
C&C Coffee and Kitchen, a breakfast and Korean kitchen at 4284 Trail Boss Drive, had a line out the door about 10 a.m. Mother’s Day. Families of all sizes filed in past a “bouncer” with a visible sidearm. Every seat was taken as folks dined in. The floor was packed with people standing, waiting for coffee or take-out orders. One person could be seen wearing a mask inside the building.
Happy Mother’s Day from C& C in Castle Rock, where the owner said this is almost double a normal Mother’s Day. pic.twitter.com/cPSzjmAfAg
— Nick Puckett (@nick__puckett) May 10, 2020
The same restaurant had a fairly thought-provoking poster in the window… “Our freedom doesn’t end where your fear begins. If you are scared stay at home!”
This is a sign from a restaurant in Castle Rock, Colorado. This restaurant was packed today on Mother’s Day. America needs to reopen.
The cure for the virus cannot be worse than the virus itself. pic.twitter.com/AvckpEyuSn
— RD (@real_defender) May 10, 2020
While some people are practicing social distancing, the crowds are still tight in many takeaway joints. Photos and videos of customers ignoring social distancing measures are all over social media.
“Social distancing” in America was never going to work. This pic is from Los Amigos in Brighton. pic.twitter.com/ytCYI6WiJE
— Adam (@OverTheKamoon) May 6, 2020
It’s not all bad: at least some business owners are obeying the rules. This queue at a drive through coffee store proves that people can live in quarantine and still get good coffee…
Judging by the 45 minute drive through line up for a coffee at Starbucks, I don’t think the world is ready for the anticipated post-Covid carpocalypse. pic.twitter.com/cU0qXSqi8D
— Brent Bellamy (@brent_bellamy) May 8, 2020
Not all restaurants are as busy as C&C Kitchen in Colorado, but some states are certainly opening up with minimal social distancing in place. Restaurants in Texas and Tennessee, for example, are hopping with customers. It seems too early as of yet to tell what the implications might be.
Restaurants are packed in Houston. Texas is the experiment for the rest of the country. pic.twitter.com/ssOArs0CfE
— Spartantrader (@msumak) May 9, 2020
Our writers report on: What It’s Really Like To Eat Out With Social Distancing: Dinner & Brunch Review
