Oregon restaurants, bars prepare for outdoor reopening

OREGON — Melissa and Jason Stombaugh decided carry out wasn’t for them during the COVID-19 pandemic closings.

Instead, the Sledgehammer’s co-owners decided to install an outdoor patio area at their restaurant and bar.

It’ll come in handy Friday. That’s when the state will allow for outdoor-only dining and drinking while practicing social distancing.

“I think it’ll be packed,” Melissa said. “The weather is supposed to be good. We’re a biker destination. We have a new deck on a historical building. It’s more of a destination now.”

Sledgehammer’s plans to have a band each night of the reopening weekend. A mixed drink bar and horse troughs full of beer on ice will be outside.

The Stombaughs are waiting to hear from the Ogle County Health Department issues such as whether patrons can use indoor restrooms or whether portable ones will be necessary.

“We’re a small town, and we had a lot of people say they’re coming and live music is a big draw,” Melissa said. “We expect at least 80% of our normal clientele plus those that are tired of being cooped up.”

There are no plans for extra security to enforce social distancing. That responsibility will fall on bartenders, she said. Tables will be placed 6 feet apart and servers will be wearing masks.

The Ogle County Health Department released some guidelines for restaurants that will be reopening. The Facebook page post recommends restaurants provide hand-washing stations, hand sanitizer and signage outlining distancing rules.

“Be sure that your expectations are clear, and that you have a plan to address instances when employees or customers do not comply with your procedures,” the post said.

The health department fielded many questions from restaurant operators regarding use of various types of outdoor areas and about restrooms, maximum capacity and more. It expects the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will address those concerns.

Food must be prepared inside. Restaurants were asked to contact local building authorities or municipalities regarding outdoor seating, use of decks, tents, canopies and public restrooms.

“It is most likely that fully enclosed tents will not be permissible as it would essentially create an indoor environment,” the OCHD said.

When the news of outdoor reopenings came, Oregon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Liz Vos got right to work and called every restaurant and bar in town.

“It’s going to help tremendously,” Vos said. “It’s not as much as before all this, but at least it’s in the right direction.”

The city is looking at ways to help the restaurants and bars do business, including letting them place chairs on city property such as parking lots, Mayor Ken Williams said. Streets likely won’t be blocked off for them.

There is an item on Tuesday's City Council agenda that would place a 45-day moratorium on a law that doesn’t allow drinking on city property.

“We’d still have to fence off the area so people aren’t wandering around the city with alcohol,” Williams said. “We have no plans for police placement. If there are groups gathering, a policeman driving by may ask them to not have people together. Our current policy is to follow the guidelines.”