Virus puts reopening plans in flux for local restaurants

Sehnert's Bieroc Cafe employees who are rearranging the dining room to observe social distancing rules if the cafe opens up are Kyle Kinne, from left, Cliff O’Dell and Jamie Mockry.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — As of today, plans to re-open restaurant dining rooms in McCook on Monday are in flux.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced plans earlier this week to ease coronavirus restrictions in 10 public health districts, including SWPHD on Monday, May 4, and extend restrictions in three — Lincoln-Lancaster, West Central and Three Rivers — to May 11.

It allows places of worship to open May 4, as well as a limited opening of restaurant dining rooms, beauty salons and tattoo businesses.

Local businesses are eager to open up, but only if it’s safe to do so. Sehnert’s Bakery/Bieroc Cafe employee Rachel Skelton, with her mother, sewed almost 100 pleated face masks for her fellow employees, with two masks per employee.

Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette

But, since a resident of Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook tested positive on Thursday for the virus, plans to re-open are being reconsidered.

Many area business owners had plans to open Monday or Tuesday, using social distancing requirements of limiting dining room capacity by 50%, spacing diners at least one table apart and limiting the number people at a table to six.

Now, many are not sure whether to move forward with this or to take a wait-and-see attitude.

Matt Sehnert, owner of Sehnert’s Bakery/Bieroc Cafe, had plans for a “soft” opening on Monday. Now, he’s not so sure. “Things change so fast. Right now, we’re really hesitant and would rather err on the side of caution,” he said. Sehnert said he’s contacted the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department for guidance and is waiting to hear back.

His biggest concern is opening up, then having to shut-down again, Sehnert said. He also expressed concern over the safety of healthcare workers should the hospitals see a surge in patients, as well as the safety of patrons, his employees and the community. The virus was predicted to reach its peak in Nebraska from late April to the beginning of May and so far, that appears to be happening, he said, at least in Southwest Nebraska. “If we open, it will be done gradually, the same way we closed down,” he said.

Other eateries also had plans of opening. Mac’s Drive In planned for Tuesday with restrictions in place, said owner, Angie McCarty. In addition to every other table remaining vacant, condiments such as salt and pepper shakers will be removed from tables and available to customers near the cash register. Tables and seats will be sanitized regularly. “We’ve been very fortunate, business has been very good with to-go orders and people parking outside to eat,” McCarty said.

Taste of Texas BBQ manager Bishop Williams said they plan to open on Tuesday, May 5, with social distancing restrictions in place. Loop Brewery also planned for a Tuesday opening. Other businesses and their plans for re-opening included:

-- El Puerto plans to open its dining room on Wednesday at half the capacity and with every other table vacant, said its assistant manager.

-- Rita Messersmith, assistant manager of Goodwill in McCook, said she hasn’t received “a green light” yet about when the store can re-open, but expects to hearing something by Monday or Tuesday.

-- Farrell’s Pharmacy/Hallmark will open Monday with regular hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

There was a silver lining for at least one local business owner during the shut-down. Citta Deli owner Bill Lesko of McCook said that carry-out service has been doing great but that he had been “dragging my feet” on setting up online ordering and delivery.

That changed when the Covid-19 virus forced the issue and online ordering for the restaurant proved very successful, Lesko said, who had planned to open with restrictions on Monday, May 4.