Restaurants, bars, gyms in Kentucky can now operate at 50% capacity

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Restaurants, bars, gyms, fitness centers and pools are able to operate at 50% capacity again in Kentucky starting Monday, Dec. 14.

Bars and restaurants can open indoor dining at 50% capacity and can still continue curbside service, delivery and outdoor dining. Both will be required to stop serving food at 11 p.m. and close by midnight.

"This isn't over by a long shot for restaurants," said Curtis Rader, the owner of Buck's Restaurant. "I would say the second shutdown has been tougher."

Once statewide restrictions shut down indoor service again for bars and restaurants starting Nov. 20, many owners tried to get creative with outdoor dining, to-go and delivery options. However, several announced the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to close for good.

Buck's is a fine dining restaurant on West Ormsby Avenue, and Rader made the decision to temporarily close during the second shutdown.

"Fine dining is a tough sell for to-go food," he said. "For the most part, people don't want to eat prime steak and lobster tail in to-go boxes."

He knew if he tried to operate in a second shutdown and "go in the hole too much, then we can't reopen."

Buck's did reopen Monday starting with lunch. Rader is encouraged with the news of the vaccine and hopes it helps stabilize things by the spring. He said in the short term, his restaurant can financially operate through potentially March. However, if things get worse or there's another shutdown, he's not sure beyond that.

"We make most of our money during Derby and Christmas time," he said. "So we've missed out on both of those this year. I think the biggest fear is another shutdown. You know, it seems like restaurants are going to get picked on."

Rader said he's most concerned for his employees, many of whom have not received a penny of unemployment since March. He said he hopes Gov. Andy Beshear and lawmakers are sincere about helping workers and the restaurant industry bounce back in 2021.

Gyms, fitness centers, pools and other indoor recreation facilities can also operate at 50% capacity.

Kentucky reported 2,454 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, according to the governor. The state's positivity rate, a measure of the proportion of tests returning positive, dropped for a 10th day in a row — from 8.79% on Saturday to 8.52% on Sunday, according to a report from Kentucky Public Health.

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