Restaurants across the Garden State have begun to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering outdoor dining.

Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order allowing the practice went into effect Monday morning. Restaurants will be subject to various restrictions to protect the public from the virus. But restaurant owners say that it is worth it to stay in business.

Hoboken officials held a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Leo’s Italian Restaurant to celebrate the 81-year-old restaurant’s new socially distant outdoor dining area. And across the street on a public plaza, a toast to New Jersey’s next phase of reopening.

“We want to support small businesses, innovate and revitalize economically and we want to think outside the box,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “We also want to use all of our real estate at our disposal to help businesses survive.”

Hoboken is allowing restaurants to take up more of the sidewalk, use city-owned open space and even build parklets in the parking lot to allow for more space for outdoor dining.

Elysian Café was busy from open to close on Monday. News 12 New Jersey reported about the restaurant back in March when owner Travis Young found out that he lost out on the first round of Paycheck Protection Program loans. He says that he is much happier now that he can reopen for outdoor dining.

“We’ve had so many people call and say, ‘Thrilled you’re back. We missed you…’ Getting that all day,” Young says.

All restaurants must use social distancing and tables must be six feet apart. Staff is required to wear masks and all times and regularly sanitize tables and other surfaces.