The last legal barrier to Pennsylvania businesses lifting their occupancy restrictions came down Monday on the order of Gov. Tom Wolf.
In other words, no more need to space tables, and the building capacity returns to whatever the fire marshal says is appropriate.
But in many Erie-area businesses, change hasn t happened overnight.
On Tuesday morning, upside-down drinking glasses still sat on every other table at Dave s Diner, on North Park Row in downtown Erie. The glasses were left over from more than 14 months of occupancy restrictions.
They won t be there for long, said Lindsay Coccarelli, who manages the restaurant at 26 North Park Row.
2020 Best of Erie Winners and Finalists Your favorite people, places, and things in the Erie area by Erie Reader Staff
Nick Warren / seohwa
Given the historic challenge of 2020, few could be blamed for not being at their best. In the context of COVID-19, sometimes doing your best was just hanging in there. But to transcend all that, to continue to be a superlative asset to this city and this community despite all those trials and tribulations? That deserves recognition and celebration sometimes in ways previously unthought
Your 2020 Best of Erie winners reflect this. With categories such as Culture & Nightlife and Food & Drink disproportionately affected by the pandemic, new subcategories were created while others have gone on temporary hiatus. Before 2020 could you have imagined voting for Erie s Best Alcoholic Slushie (Altered State Distillery) while live-streaming an award-winning Erie Playhouse