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Local restaurants looking forward to setting up outdoors once again

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Posted at 6:27 PM, Jan 25, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-26 00:56:41-05

California's stay-at-home order is being lifted, which means businesses like restaurants and hair salons can re-open with limitations.

Many businesses, like The Boy’s Restaurant in Santa Maria, are waiting for the green light from Santa Barbara County to start setting back up outdoors.

Despite a few current weather hiccups, they say they're happy to be allowed to serve their customers again.

"Yeah, we are definitely planning on it and seeing everything we can do to see what we can follow, protocols, and we are definitely going to jump on it as soon as possible,” said Frank Maciel, The Boy's Restaurant server.

California is moving back to its county-by-county tiered system which allows businesses to reopen based on the level of COVID-19 spread in their area.

This decision was based on a 4-week ICU projection, according to the California Department of Public Health.

For Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, that means back to the purple tier and businesses like restaurants can start serving outdoors once again after a 7-week halt.

Under the stay-at-home order, restaurants were only allowed to offer take-out and delivery.

"Take-out has been doing ok, it's been keeping us afloat so we are doing well, we are thankful for all our patrons and we are doing the best we can, you know, holding on,” said Casa Manana's restaurant assistant manager Jason Ontiveros.

Even though the state has lifted the order, that doesn't mean every county has to allow businesses to return. Local jurisdictions are allowed to implement other restrictions if necessary.

At Casa Manana their now-empty patio is ready to be set up once given the go-ahead.

"We will get everything set up with heaters and more lighting. We have all that ready to go, we are just waiting for the green light from the county so we can put everything back out there,” Ontiveros said.

At The Boy's Restaurant, they also say they are waiting for county approval.

"We do know a lot of people like to sit down and eat and enjoy their meals instead of taking it to-go, so we are going to do whatever we can to make everyone happy,” Maciel said.

Late Monday afternoon, Santa Barbara County released updated guidelines that will allow businesses to take these steps as of Tuesday at 8 a.m.

San Luis Obispo County says restaurants can resume outdoor dining immediately.