Asbury Park is going against Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order, moving forward with indoor dining starting Monday after the city council voted Wednesday night.

 

“We didn’t see a huge difference in allowing people to be in a room up to 50 people then sitting at a table and eating or drinking,” says Asbury Park Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn.

Like every other town in New Jersey, Asbury Park restaurant owners are struggling. As the state begins to reopen, the governor announced earlier this week indoor gatherings could have either 25% of a building's capacity, or 50 people, whichever is lower.

It appears Asbury Park took that to mean for restaurants as well, even though the governor's executive order says only outdoor dining would be allowed to reopen on June 15.

“We believe that they will reopen safely at 25% capacity and they will follow all the requirements of executive order 152,” says Mayor Quinn. “If you aren’t comfortable with that, just don’t come out.”

Mayor Quinn says Asbury Park’s restaurants are not corporate, and mom and pop operations need the support of local government more than ever before.

“Our hope is that we can keep some of the businesses from going under, quite frankly, after not being open for the last two and a half months,” says Mayor Quinn.

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas Arnone supported Asbury Park, saying, “I know this was not an easy decision to come to and I also know the difficult spot our local mayors are in when it comes to answering questions from business owners asking why the state won't permit them to have indoor dining with social distancing policies in place. This shutdown has critically impacted the livelihoods of our small business community and I'm proud to see local leaders take the side of small businesses. I know the businesses will continue to make the health and safety of their patrons and employees their top priority."

Mayor Quinn says that while the city is not going to take action against restaurants that open, the state may.