By: Denise J. Wheeler, Seacoastonline.com

It’s a pleasant July evening during the biggest vacation week of the year, but COVID-19 has cast its shadow on downtown Portsmouth’s bustling summer sheen. Instead of elbow-to-elbow tourists at cocktail-studded tables, restaurants are operating at 50% capacity or less. Some are still shuttered.
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Opening the doors this summer means restaurateurs have had to pull off a new modus operandi and a new look. But, they say, that alone doesn’t ensure their viability. A safety net of federal and state aid, as well as creative, agile policy changes on the part of city government, are also critical if they are going to make it through the winter.

“We are all writing the playbook as we go,” said chef Matt Louis, who co-owns Moxy and The Franklin, which are temporarily closed, and Street and Luigi’s West End Pizzeria, which are open. “The only way forward with a chance to break even under the current guidelines is the magic trifecta of revenue from indoor-outdoor seating and takeout. The pressing reality now is that most places in Portsmouth can’t hit all three.”

That’s why two of Louis’s establishments are still closed more than three weeks after the state’s restaurants were given the green light to serve customers indoors. The seating capacity limit of 50% in the four New Hampshire counties hardest hit by COVID-19, Rockingham, Hillsborough, Strafford and Merrimack, dealt an added blow to Portsmouth restaurateurs, many of whom pay high rents for small spaces. Restaurants in the state’s other, and more northern counties, can operated at 100%, but still must keep patrons at least 6 feet apart.

Despite their disastrous impact, Louis is not complaining about the government mandates.

“The future is unknown and, frankly, what is black and white is that our businesses cannot survive like this,” he said. “But I don’t disagree with the guidelines. I don’t see any other way this can be approached. It’s a tough spot to be in.”

Louis, a James Beard award semifinalist chef, says there is little hope The Franklin will hit the trifecta. The narrow sidewalk out front is paved with uneven, broken bricks. There are no parking spaces to extend into. Its fine dining menu with an emphasis on oysters does not lend itself to a takeout model. And due to the restaurant’s design, which features a spacious bar in the center, it accommodates about 30 to 35 socially distant seats, as opposed to the 76 they had B.C.-19 (before COVID-19).

“I don’t see a way we are going to break even, but we are going to open because we have to roll the dice and hope the damage is minimal. We still have expenses, including rent to pay,” Louis says. “Luckily, our PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan is extended to the end of October. We have a better chance at survival and getting loan forgiveness by opening. If we don’t get our PPP loan extended, The Franklin has zero chance of making it.”

Louis was able to open Luigi’s and Street because they have patio space out front and a strong takeout following. He is working with the city to create more outdoor capacity for Moxy.

Last month, Louis was among the 5,466 New Hampshire business-owners who received a grant from the $400 million Main Street Relief Fund, distributed to the state as part of the federal CARES Act. According to the governor’s office, each grant covers 17% of a business’s losses.

That aid, Louis says, is critical.

He estimates without government assistance at least 90% of all independently owned restaurants will go under.

“Believe me, I don’t want more government assistance,” he said. “But these are just the facts. I don’t foresee any other way.”

The Portsmouth Brewery also got a Main Street loan and has pulled off the trifecta model, reopening as Gov. Chris Sununu’s phased strategy for restaurants allowed. But that is no silver bullet. Utilizing an existing patio and additional seating in a paved lot behind the restaurant for outdoor seating is little more than a Band-Aid.

Given the state’s regulations, the brewery is generating about 50% of its typical revenue.
“At that rate, we are a literally not making a profit,” owner Peter Egelston said. “We are likely operating at a deficit or breaking even. Nothing can fix that until we have more capacity. We are happy to be open, but this is not a long-term solution.

“This is the time of year restaurants are usually putting money in the bank. The fact that none of us are making money, much less putting it in the bank, is a real concern. We’ll be going into the slow winter season without the cash reserves we normally have.”

Louis, and other owners of downtown restaurants, have uniformly echoed that concern. When considering the long view, the months of January and February bring dire predictions that call to mind the Game of Thrones’ ominous “winter is coming” catchphrase.

“The scariest part for me is not the outcome of outdoor dining,” Louis said. “It’s winter when we will likely see an economy in recession, unemployment and federal aid dry up. January and February – that’s when we will see the true ramifications of all this.”

Still, al fresco dining is a key part of the immediate response. In a city where there are more restaurant seats than residents, city councilors recognize the industry’s symbiotic connection to Portsmouth’s economy and culture. They formed the Portsmouth Citizen Response Task Force on June 1 to provide assistance to businesses in jeopardy, including restaurants.

Since its first meeting June 9, its 21 members have been working with city officials and an independent group of locals to create more outdoor opportunities and a CDC-compliant path forward. Soon after its formation, the city approved outdoor dining permits for 40-plus restaurants in a 3-day period. By the end of the first week of July, barricades were up throughout the downtown and dining tables stood on what used to be parking spaces.

Task force member Russ Grazier said its goal is to act as quickly as possible to create revenue-generating opportunities specifically for restaurants, retail and performance venues. The group currently has a subcommittee to transform the Bridge Street parking lot into a pop-up performance/retail space with the Black Trumpet as the anchor restaurant, a beer garden, and guest restaurants, including Louis’s Moxy.

A second subcommittee is working on downtown street dining.

“We are putting a high priority on safety and recommendations from the state while ensuring Portsmouth businesses don’t go under during the pandemic,” Grazier said. “Everyone is putting in a strong, good-faith effort to make Bridge Street happen. The challenge is we are fighting time and accelerating all our planning. As a result, we are tackling a lot of problems concurrently. It’s been challenging in that respect, but it is going to happen and we hope to get about three months of activity there.”

The task force was aiming to get the Bridge Street pop-up going by July 15, but that date is not confirmed.
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By: Rick Green, The Laconia Daily Sun

CONCORD — Residents of New England states are no longer required to self quarantine for 14 days before staying in hotels and other lodging in New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu said Thursday.
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The requirement that people attest that they underwent such a quarantine will remain in force for people from outside the six New England states, which, in addition to New Hampshire, are Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine.

Mike Somers, president of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, said, “for a lot of folks this is quite a big deal.

“Based on our current circumstances, we aren't seeing anywhere near the number of folks from far afield,” he said. “They are primarily from New England drive-in markets. Every little bit helps and we certainly welcome the governor’s decision and are excited that it landed before the 4th of July Weekend and hopefully we can have folks take advantage of that.” 

Karmen Gifford, president of the Lakes Region Chamber, said it was important to ease the quarantine requirement for New England residents.  

“We’re coming into tourism season,” she said. “I’m happy to see New Hampshire is taking that step — Maine and Massachusetts had already done so. So I think this kind of opens it up.”

She said asking people to attest that they have undergone a quarantine creates a kind of honor system.

“You don’t know if they are telling the truth or not,” Gifford said. “The biggest thing is to wear masks and practice the safety guidelines that are still in place.”

By: Bob Sanders, New Hampshire Business Review

Restaurants throughout New Hampshire will be able to open up to 100% of capacity in the next reopening phase, if they can separate tables by six feet, the Governor’ Economic Re-opening Task Force voted Monday.
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But the panel also agreed to pass on a request to the Division of Public Health and Gov. Chris Sununu – who ultimately will make the decision – to allow restaurants to substitute some kind of physical barrier when social distancing is not economically feasible.

“The economics of social distancing doesn’t make sense for our industry,” said Mike Somers, CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association, who said that the restaurants are “bleeding,” even in the North Country, where 100% capacity is already allowed. “Better than half of them are struggling and need more tables and more turns,” said Somers.

Restaurants opened up for indoor dining on June 15, completing its first reopening phase. But the task force is already looking ahead to phase 2. Last week it issued such guidelines for retailers, and on Monday passed them for childcare facilities.

The second phase may be the last phase, said DJ Bettencourt, the governor’s point man on the task force.

“The next step is to lift all restrictions. I foresee wrapping up first week of July,” he said. “Allowing folks (on the task force) to get back to their day job, so to speak,” though they may be called back as needed
Some of those folks were not so ready go away. Rep. Bill Marsh, R-Wolfeboro, a task force member, noted that if the virus spikes again, necessitating a reopening roll back, the task force would be needed to “be more selective than to just ratchet down everything.” Though he was amenable to await the call of the chair.

But Rep. Jeffrey Salloway, D-Lee, said that instead of awaiting such a call, “we need to be more proactive to prevent a second wave coming to new Hampshire.

‘Very firm’ on distancing

For now, the task force is still discussing the second phase of reopening, which consolidates the myriad lengthy guidelines of the first phase into much shorter guidelines for related industries.

For instance, the aforementioned phase 2 restaurant guidance is part of a broader document that also includes hotels and events facilities.

For restaurants, it would lift the current 50% capacity requirements for eateries in Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack and Strafford counties and it would allow 10 people at a table, compared to the current six-person limit.

But public health officials are “very firm” on the social distancing recommendations, said Patricia Tilley, deputy director of the state Division of Public Health.

“We are looking at the states to the south and west and seeing a dramatic increase, she said. “Part of the increase is due to more relaxed rules.”

So the phase 2 guidance will require that tables and patrons at a bar who are not part of the same household must still be six feet apart. The guidance also doesn’t allow standing at bars, but it might be allowed for viewing sporting events as long as participants keep their distance.

At a hearing last week, restaurant owners complained that many bars and restaurants can’t operate at 100% capacity with those social distancing rules, even though outdoor dining is still allowed, since they simply didn’t have enough space – either inside or outside – to spread out.

Also last week, Somers asked health officials to consider that the ventilation in restaurants should allow for some slack for the social distancing rules. He repeated that request Monday, but this time offered another alternative.

“I would not be opposed to have some barriers in place of the six feet,” he said.

By: Kevin Landrigan, New Hampshire Union Leader

CONCORD -- Restaurant and small bistro owners say they will be unable to break even if their eateries continue to be restricted to half-capacity because of COVID-19.

The complaints to the Governor’s Economic Reopening Task Force Thursday came only three days after restaurants were allowed to open for indoor service.

Jay Bolduc, operating manager of T-Bones Restaurant in Laconia, said establishments can’t expect their customers to come at staggered times to limit crowds.

“We can’t tell our guests to get hungry at 10 p.m.,” said Bolduc, who chairs the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association’s board of directors.

Michael Buckley, with the Michael Timothy’s Dining Group of restaurants, said increasing seating capacity isn’t the only answer.

“When we go to make the decision to go up to 100%, we must address the table spreading as well,” Buckley said, referring to the requirement that tables be at least six feet apart.

Gov. Chris Sununu on June 5 announced restaurants could open for indoor service on June 15.

The restaurant business was the first sector Sununu chose to reopen in different stages, depending on location.

The governor allowed restaurants to operate at 100% capacity in the six counties with the fewest COVID-19 cases — Coos, Cheshire, Grafton, Belknap, Carroll and Sullivan.

Restaurants in Hillsborough, Rockingham, Strafford and Merrimack counties were limited to 50% capacity. Those four counties have combined to account for almost 90% of the state’s COVID-19 cases.

Restaurants in the six counties that are allowed to serve 100% of regular customers must do so through a combination of both indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor seating is still limited to 50%.

Leaders in the lodging and banquet room businesses also argued against their 50% limits.
“It is not at all practical from an operational or an economic point of view,” said Joel Bourassa, director of regional resorts for Vacation Resort International, which operates two resorts in Lincoln.
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“This hurts the economy by limiting up to 50% of the reservations that we have to reset later on. This really has to change and soon,” he said.

By: Fred Bevers, Maine Public 

For more than a week, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have been encouraging travel around northern New England as a step toward reviving their tourism-dependent economies that have been suppressed by the pandemic. But where exactly you hail from can make a big difference in your ability to move about freely.

Last week, Maine Gov. Janet Mills threw open the doors for New Hampshire and Vermont residents to visit and stay in Maine without any sort of quarantine.

“As you look at the data, the three states have similar health outcomes,” said Heather Johnson, Maine’s commissioner of economic and community development.

With case rates that have generally been much lower than urban areas in New England, and with daily case rates declining in all three states since mid-May, Johnson said it made sense for Maine to revise the rules.

“Once you get outside of the [three] states, it’s a pretty big difference, so it became clear that was a logical break point,” she said.

Unlike Maine, New Hampshire is not making distinctions among travelers from northern and southern New England, or anywhere else.

“The current policy is that New Hampshire residents are welcome to move about the state freely, stay in lodging properties, et cetera,” said Mike Somers, president of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association. “Out-of-state visitors are required to essentially attest that they have been isolated, at home, for 14 days.”

Lodging operators are asked to get guests to sign a document attesting that they have met the standard and do not have any symptoms.

“I think it certainly presents challenges, don’t get me wrong. This time of year all of us northern New Englanders certainly enjoy having out-of-state visitors. It’s a big part of our local economies. And so these businesses are legitimately trying to figure out ways to navigate this,” Somers said.

That makes New Hampshire hotel and campground operators the envy of their counterparts in Maine, where most out-of-state visitors are barred until the very end of the month. Even then they will face an array of options for quarantines or testing lodging operators say are a turn-off for potential visitors.

Tina Hewitt-Gordon, the general manager of Kennebunkport’s seaside Nonantum Inn, said every time the state adjusts its travel rules, southern Maine sees a rash of cancellations.

“So if they’re not staying at our hotels they’re not going to the restaurants, they’re not going to the retail shops,” Hewitt-Gordon said. “And the long-term effect is just devastating, because what happens next year when they go to make their travel reservations they say ‘hey, wait a minute, we really had a great time in New Hampshire, let’s not go to Maine let’s go to New Hampshire.'”

By: Jonathan Phelps, New Hampshire Union Leader

On the first day restaurants were able to reopen indoors after nearly three months, Ron Carlquist grabbed an open stool at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester.
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He was the only one at the counter, but customers filled the two open booths. The state’s COVID-19 pandemic guidance allows for 50% capacity.

“It feels good. It really does. I missed this place,” the Manchester resident said after being served his hamburger with pasta salad. “I’m glad they’re open, but I’m glad everybody is doing the right thing and staying apart.”

During the dining ban, Carlquist ordered takeout and sat outdoors at the Lowell Street landmark, but he’s been waiting for a seat back inside since the ban started March 17.
“The food gets cold too fast,” he said of outdoor dining.

The night before the ban was enacted — the eve of St. Patrick’s Day — people rushed out to local bars and restaurants as news spread of the coming closure.

On Monday, many restaurants in the Queen City reported a slow reopening for indoor dining but expect a boost by the weekend. Many restaurants aren’t usually open on Mondays.

“I’m not mad about it,” said Red Arrow server Robin Deary. “It gives us a week to kind of prepare before the weekend when it is definitely going to be a lot busier.”

Most people chose to eat outdoors on Main Street in Nashua, making it hard to tell indoor dining had resumed.

“It is such a nice day outside. Why would you want to be inside?” said Christopher Trulock while eating a sandwich in front of the Nashua Garden at 121 Main St.

The bar and deli had just two or three groups of patrons opt to eat inside on Monday, while the rest preferred to dine outdoors where tables have been set up along the sidewalk and a portion of Main Street blocked to traffic to accommodate restaurants throughout the pandemic.

“I am not sure people even know that restaurants are now open inside at 50%,” said Trulock.
“Even when it is raining we still have people who want to eat outside,” said Kalli Bogdzewic, an employee at the Nashua Garden. “But, we are so grateful and so excited to be able to seat people inside. I just like seeing all of the familiar faces returning.”

Alex LaRoza and his mother, Debra, from Sunapee, decided to eat outside at Consuelo’s Taqueria in Manchester, but only because it was a nice day. They would have no problem dining inside, they said.

“I haven’t been out to a restaurant sitting down for like three months. We’ve done some takeout,” LaRoza said. “I’m totally ready to go indoors, but it is just nicer outside.

Martin Delgadillo, Consuelo’s owner, spent time painting and installing plexiglass around the open kitchen during the shutdown. Business has been slow with all the offices downtown closed, but he had three or four indoor tables full around lunchtime on Monday.

“I think there is still a concern,” he said. “It is the reality of it. It is what it is, we are trying to make the best of it.”

Pickup orders have been steady since the restaurant reopened after Memorial Day. Weekends can get busy for outdoor dining.

By: Jonathan Phelps, New Hampshire Union Leader

Outside the closed Joey’s Diner on Route 101A in Amherst, Peter Duffy took a break from one of his evening bike rides to make a video to post on social media.

“I want to let you know that we miss you and we hope you come back real soon,” the Merrimack resident said from outside the 1950s-style diner.

He’s not the only New Hampshire resident missing his favorite restaurant during the pandemic.

Joey’s, which closed a few days after Gov. Chris Sununu’s March 17 ban on eat-in dining to prevent the spread of coronavirus, hopes to reopen Monday, according to Jamie Arsenault, one of the managers with the restaurant group that also owns Black Forest Cafe in Amherst and Luke’s Bar and Grill in Hudson.

“We only stayed open for about three days,” she said of Joey’s. “We weren’t doing anything for takeout, so we just decided to close down.”

Starting Monday, restaurants in Hillsborough, Rockingham, Strafford and Merrimack counties will be allowed to seat up to 50% of their capacity indoors. Restaurants in the six other counties can open up to full capacity as long as tables are six feet apart.

Some restaurants converted quickly to takeout and delivery, while others decided to remain closed until they could invite diners back. Some restaurants have permanently closed, and more are expected to do so before the pandemic is over.

For the past several weeks, restaurants have become creative with outdoor dining, which Sununu allowed as part of the state’s reopening plans. The openings require masks for servers, parties of no more than six people and other restrictions, such as disposable menus and nothing standing on the tables.

The openings include chains like Bertucci’s, which will be ready to resume indoor dining in Manchester and Salem.

Joey’s Diner, which typically fills to capacity on weekends, plans to take reservations. Customers will have to wait outdoors for a table.

“A typical Saturday we’re on a wait from pretty much 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” Arsenault said. That was before the 50% capacity restriction.

Duffy can’t wait to get back to one of his favorite spots to order his usual — scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, side of blueberry pancakes, home fries, orange juice and coffee.

“They are just a major part of the community and they make it a lot more vibrant,” he said. “And we love one of the waiters (Siegfried) — he is freakin’ awesome.”

The restaurant had 22 employees before temporarily closing. Arsenault hopes they will all be back in the next several weeks.

“We are going to open on Monday and see what happens, most of the staff is ready to come back right now,” she said. “We had a few people start back (last week) to clean and get the restaurant ready.”

Much-needed ‘lifeline’Restaurants are working hard to welcome guests back while meeting safety standards, said Mike Somers, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association.

“I know a lot of businesses were getting pretty desperate, so this is a lifeline,” he said. “A lot of folks are just very happy to get back to what they love.”

All restaurants will be required to make changes regardless of what county they’re located in, he said.
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“I think for the most part most folks have been hanging on. We have heard of some closings and I suspect we are going to hear of some more before this is all over,” Somers said. “I think people have figured out a way to survive up until this point.”

Some of the hardest hit will be seasonal restaurants because they’ve already lost about a third of their year.

“We just don’t know what consumer demand is going to be,” Somers said.

By: Kevin Landrigan, New Hampshire Union Leader

CONCORD -- Nearly three months after their dining rooms were closed, New Hampshire restaurants and banquet halls will soon reopen for indoor dining and wedding receptions, Gov. Chris Sununu announced Friday.

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Sununu is opening parts of the state more than the rest, in this case when it comes to sit-down dining.

Starting June 15, restaurants in Hillsborough, Rockingham, Strafford and Merrimack counties will be allowed to seat up to 50% of their capacity.

Restaurants in the six other counties, including businesses in the tourist-driven Lakes Region and North Country, can open up to 100% capacity as long as they have at least 6 feet between tables, Sununu said.

“We are going to take another step, and this time it’s a geographic step,” Sununu said.
Sununu made the distinction because an estimated 90% of the COVID-19 cases have occurred in those four southern counties.

Sununu said the continued incidence of the disease in Massachusetts is another factor.
It’s less likely that a Massachusetts couple will drive to central or northern New Hampshire for dinner, he said.

“When you are opening up a restaurant, one of the fears…is folks in the high-impacted areas (like Massachusetts) would come up and use our restaurants,” Sununu said.
“This will allow us to better manage and control the spread of the disease.”
Likewise, wedding reception venues will be limited to 50% capacity. That will apply uniformly across the state.

Sununu justified the difference between weddings and restaurants by noting that the risk of transmitting the virus at a wedding reception is greater than at a sit-down dinner.
“When you are in a restaurant, the ability to interact between people from table to table is very limited,” Sununu said.

“You are in your own group. When you are in a wedding reception, you are all together, the environment is far more prone to people going throughout the room meeting with family, friends, guests. That’s one of the fundamental differences.”

Other rules for these venues remain the same, including face coverings for staff, disposable menus and frequent cleaning and disinfecting.

By: Kimberly Houghton, Union Leader Correspondent 

Restaurants throughout the state that received the first round of money from the Paycheck Protection Program are fearful as their funds are depleting and their restaurants are still unable to accommodate indoor dining.

These restaurants are running out of time, said Mike Somers, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association.

The money will be gone and there is still no opening date, Somers said during a conference call Thursday with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Small businesses that received PPP money in round one are about to run out of those funds, agreed Bill Greiner, co-owner of Great New Hampshire Restaurants.

“For us, we are literally days away,” Greiner said, noting some businesses will need to make very difficult decisions on whether to cut staff.

Shaheen said there are discussions underway and attempts at legislation to assist those businesses who received the first loan to possibly obtain a second one, however a bipartisan effort will be necessary to get something passed to provide some additional money that is beyond just the hospitality industry.

The Black Trumpet in Portsmouth is another restaurant that is reaching the end of its PPP loan funds and is worried about the uncertain future. Evan Mallet, chef and owner, says it is frustrating that there is no timeline for reopening indoor dining.

Mallet said it is difficult to make plans for staffing and even pay his rent with so many questions still looming.

Shaheen said she understands this is a frightening and difficult time for many business owners in New Hampshire. The tourism and hospitality industry has been hard hit, and in many cases the first to be shut down and among the last to open during the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.

“I do believe that we are able to operate at a safe manner at a reduced capacity inside,” said Sean Brown of The Common Man. While The Common Man inns will be reopening on Friday, he said what is really necessary is the opening of indoor dining — at least at half capacity.

Shaheen said the state recently received about $61 million in federal funds for additional COVID-19 testing, adding that will be helpful as the state continues to open up and push for indoor dining.

“We need a major infrastructure investment package,” she acknowledged, which should be geared to helping these businesses in the long run as well, not just with their immediate needs.