New Safety Protocols In Place For Hoboken Restaurants With Outdoor Seating

There are new safety protocols in place for restaurants and bars in Hoboken featuring outdoor seating.  On Monday, Mayor Ravi Bhalla signed an Executive Order establishing the new safety regulations.

Now anyone waiting for entry into an establishment, or those waiting to be seated outdoors, must be wearing a face covering.  Another new regulation prohibits “to go” alcoholic beverages for those customers waiting for entry into an establishment.

In addition, any customer who is consuming food or an alcoholic beverage must be seated.

According to a City press release, the new safety regulations are based upon input from business owners, residents and customers that were received by City Hall over the past seven days.

“The City of Hoboken is proud to assist our small business owners with creative and innovative ways to expand outdoor operations,” said Mayor Bhalla. “I’m glad the majority of business owners taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of both customers and employees. At the same time, based on feedback we’ve received, we are implementing additional safety measures that further protects our City and addresses overcrowding and social distancing issues that we’ve seen at a handful of establishments. I’m confident that these added precautions, along with the continued partnership of the City and our small businesses, will lend to a safer experience for everyone.”

Specifically, the Executive Order contains the following:

• All businesses must require any patrons waiting for entry into an establishment or outdoor seated area to wear face masks, and social distance at least six feet from others. Face masks do not need to be worn when seated at an outdoor café.
• No business is permitted to serve “to go” drinks to standing patrons while waiting for a table
• Capacity of an outdoor café, outdoor sidewalk café, or any other outdoor area is limited to the number of seats available.
• Only patrons who are seated are able to be served, and everyone must be seated while consuming beverages or food.
• As a reminder, all tables and chairs must be six feet apart, measured from the back of a chair with a seated patron, to the back of a chair at an adjacent table with a patron seated.

Any restaurant or bar that is not able to abide by these regulations, will be subject to the revocation or closure of their outdoor cafe seating privileges.  This would happen following a warning, verbal and/or written, by the Office of Emergency Management, or a violation issued by the Zoning Office or Police Department.