Empty dining halls and sanctuaries have been the new normal the past few weeks, but not anymore.
Governor Kevin Stitt announced that Oklahoma’s economy will be opened up in three phases. On May 1, restaurants were given the green light to reopen their dining halls after being closed for several weeks.
Throughout the past few weeks, D’s Specialty House and Catering in Stroud was still serving to-go orders and offering curbside pickup.
Owner Diana Stobaugh said it felt amazing to have the dining floor open, have her employees back and see her regular customers again.
“We’re pretty fortunate,” she said. “I’m thankful to keep going.”
Stobaugh said sanitizing has been an ongoing priority of hers, even before the outbreak.
“Why wait for a virus for that?” she said.
Stobaugh said they are sanitizing more frequently, cleaning the menus and using bleach.
Tammy’s Roundup Cafe in Davenport was also open throughout the Shelter at Home order serving to-go orders and curbside pickup.
Owner Tammy Warden said it feels great to have the dining hall opened.
“It’s just been really hard,” she said. “So even at half capacity, it’s nice.”
To follow the CDC recommendations, Warden has placed tape on the floor every six feet, every other table is blocked off, servers are using gloves and masks and sanitizes throughout the day.
“I had a lot of room in my restaurant to where we were able to do that,” she said. “I mean, we’re just at half capacity, but it’s better than nothing at all.”
With the dining hall closed, Warden said she was able to deep clean the entire restaurant and rearrange a few things.
Places of worship were also allowed to have inperson meetings of worship, as long as they follow the CDC recommended social distancing and sanitation protocols.
The Chandler First Assembly of God church had their first in service worship on Sunday.
“It was great,” Pastor Kevin Martin said. “We had a great turnout.”
Martin said they blocked off every other pew, asked attendees to wear masks, had multiple hand sanitizer stations and only allowed the greeters, who were wearing gloves and masks, to open and closed the doors.