Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order to allow restaurants to offer outdoor dining starting on June 15.

Restaurants around New Jersey have previously only been allowed to offer takeout and delivery due to the pandemic. Many are now starting to prepare to return to some semblance of normalcy – particularly at the Jersey Shore, where the window to make a profit is limited.

Marvis Diner in Wildwood, like many restaurants, is fighting to stay in business.

“This is our bread and butter. It’s not like it’s something where we make some extra money throughout the summer,” says Maria Zacharia.

Murphy’s announcement means that the diner can now use its existing patio to serve customers. But they are going got take it a step further by adding outdoor dining in the parking lot. They already have a tent ready to go.

 

 

“Honestly, the fact that we are able to spread out makes us feel so relieved,” says Zacharia. “I don’t know what we would do without it. I feel so sorry for all the business owners who can only offer inside seating because I’m pretty sure they feel so insecure right now.”

The diner owners also say that they are looking into an air-purifying system for indoors and will follow the guidelines that the state Health Department releases regarding outdoor seating. They say that they just hope that their customers return to support them.

“It’s so needed. It’s needed more than any other time,” Zacharia says.

Some restaurants in Wildwood are only offering takeout, while others remain closed. The governor has not said when indoor dining can return.