If All Goes Well, Restaurants and Bars In WNY Could Reopen By Mid-June

Tuesday, May 19th will be a good day, because it's the day the Phase One reopening process in Western New York can begin, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who announced it at his Monday press conference.

Phase One businesses that can reopen with a social distancing guideline in place include:

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Retail (delivery or curbside pickup)

If two weeks have gone by and there is no data to show that Phase One caused setbacks, then Phase Two can begin, which includes law firms, more retail, and professional service industries.

If another two weeks go by and there are still no setbacks, then Phase Three can begin, which are restaurants and bars in Western New York, with a limited capacity, per Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

This means that if there are no setbacks with the first two phases, restaurants and bars in Western New York could reopen by sometime in mid-June.

Phase Four would include movie theaters, other recreational businesses, and places of worship.

The entire opening process would take about eight weeks, assuming there are no setbacks. All businesses opening up must have a written plan in place for social distancing, submitted to the state before reopening, according to Mark Poloncarz.

Fingers crossed that this happens!