Restaurants prepare to welcome customers

Restaurants in Overland Park prepare to open as restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19 begin to ease.

41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER NICK STARLISHARES HOW SOMEBUSINESSES ARE MAKINGPREPARATIONS TOREOPEN.TOMORROW IS THE BIGDAY FOR RESTAURANTHERE IN JOHNSONCOUNTYAS THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS STARTTO EASEAND SOMECUSTOMERS WILL FINALLYBE ABLE TO EAT INSIDE.Benny Morina-owner, Viona"sItalian BistroWe"re excited to be backopen, that"s for sure.THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVERAS IT"S BEEN A LONGTWO MONTHS FOR BENNYMORINA"OWNER OFVIONA"S ITALIANBISTRO"AS THEY PREPAREHAVE PEOPLE SIT IN THESEEMPTY SEATS.Benny Morina-owner, Viona"sItalian BistroLast week we"ve beentraining on how we are goingto do this and how we"going to keep our customerssafe as far as socialdistancing and our tables 6feet away from each other.THE NEW RESTAURANTWAS ONLY OPEN THREEWEEKS BEFORE HAVINGSWITCH TO CURBSIDESERVICE---BECAUSE OF THISREOPENING--THEY AREHIRING EVERYBODY BACK.Benny Morina-owner, Viona"sItalian BistroObviously with adding anotherengine of dining in it helps abunch.NOT TOO FAR AWAY INOVERLANDPARK"MALONEY"SSPORT BAR AND GRILL ISPREPARING TO HAVEHUNGRY CUSTOMERSINSIDE AGAIN.Scott Wenta, GM of Maloney"sThe excitement is there,that"s for sure.EMPLOYEES ARMEASURING HOW FAREACH TABLE SHOULDBE"FOLLOWING THESOCIAL DISTANCINGGUIDELINES"AND WIPINDOWN TABLES.Scott Wenta, GM of Maloney"sWe will be serving with glovesand face masks especiallythroughout the first phase wehave sanitized stations set upat different parts of therestaurant that we"rechaining some of our tablesthat won"t be in use will besanitize stations.SEEING CUSTOMERSINSIDE"WILL BRING ASENSE OF NORMALCY"INA VERY UNUSUAL TIMScott Wenta, GM of Maloney"sOnce we get those customerswalking in the door that willmake us feel normalwe"ve been here byourselves and it"s beenvery lonely.Benny Morina-owner, Viona"sItalian BistroJust having our employeesback and seeing them serveagain and us in the kitchen isjust a normal feeling again.REPORTING IN JOHNSONCOUNTYNICK STARLING41 ACTION