(WXYZ) — A local tavern in Farmington is starting to slowly welcome people back to eat indoors, and the owner wants people to know they are safe.
“Now is the time to support local, we need it now more than ever,” said Micheal Lucaj, owner of Grand Tavern.
Micheal Lucaj has owned the Farmington Grand Tavern location for the last 12 years. There are other locations in Livonia, Troy and Rochester Hills.
WE’RE OPEN: Grand Tavern in Farmington is seating people in-doors and out on the patio. The owner telling me they are slowly starting to see people in person again. @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/CMfXtDjjB3
— Ali Hoxie (@ali_hoxie) June 17, 2020
Lucaj has made modifications inside the restaurant to help keep customers and his staff members safe.
“We put up plexiglass in between all of our booths, we have separated tables as needed six feet apart,” said Lucaj.
Menus are now on paper to throw away after being touched. Also employees are wearing face masks and increasing how often they wash their hands.
“Anytime they touch, you know, a glass or a plate that a customer touched we are making sure they wash their hands with sanitizer and soap, so we are taking extra precautions for sure,” said Lucaj.
Lucaj says he is slowly starting to see people becoming open to dine-in, though curbside pickup is still an option.
“We have had a lot of people coming in, more than I expected but it still is not where it needs to be we are running at 50% capacity but people are stating to get out,” said Lucaj.
They have slightly adjusted their hours during this pandemic. Grand Tavern is closing sooner, between midnight and 1 a.m. instead of staying open until 2 a.m.