Alcohol to-go is staying a little longer in New York. Restaurants and bars will be allowed to continue serving takeout cocktails and wine for another 30 days.
Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the measure that allows for the sale of alcohol with take out food deliveries. It was set to expire April 7, but will now continue until May 6, 2021. It may be extended again.
A spokesman for Governor Cuomo tells the Times Union in Albany, the administration realizes the boost these beverages have been for businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. “We understand the positive impact this has had for businesses during this trying time, Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, told the Times Union.
Credit Santora s Pizza Pub & Grill
A State Supreme Court judge ruled the over 90 restaurants involved in the lawsuit would be able to re-open under yellow-zone guidelines, but it doesn’t reopen all restaurants in Erie County’s orange zone.
For that to happen the state would need to budge, or the county may need to go into court, something Erie County Legislature Minority Leader Joe Lorigo is looking into.
“For it to extend further, you would either need, Erie County government to take that action,” Lorigo said. “I ll be contacting my colleagues today to find out whether or not there s any interest in doing so. Maybe even reaching out to the county executive to see if we can get the county attorney to start a lawsuit challenging the orange zone designation on behalf of restaurants in the county.”
Credit Wallenwein s Hotel / Facebook
Much of Erie County sits in the COVID orange zone, which bans indoor dining and puts a cap on outdoor dining to 10:00 PM.
“At this point in time is pretty tough on me,” said Ben Holmes, owner of Wallenwein’s in East Aurora, adding it was the busiest they’ve been in months, but now they’re in limbo.
“Because I have to order an extra 2000 wings, and with my other takeout that we were doing during the game, I ll need an extra 40 pizzas. So if I were to go ahead and order tomorrow and then I can t do this, now I m sitting on all this food in a pretty slow time” says Holmes, whose family has owned the historic restaurant for over 50 years.