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Restaurants operating at full capacity in El Paso County

Restaurants operating at full capacity in El Paso County
restaurant workers

EL PASO COUNTY, CO. (KRDO) - After the state turned over COVID-19 regulations to local governments, El Paso County has decided to allow restaurants to operate at full capacity. While some may be optimistic about this change, others are afraid this could bring an uptick of COVID-19 cases again as safety stands as their number one priority.

A moment many restaurants have been waiting for, while Garden of the Gods Market and Cafe is now open located on 616 South Tejon and is optimistic about this change, others are still looming with concern.

"I feel alive again like the page has been turned and we have a new beginning," expressed Mitchell Yellen, the CEO of the Altitude Hospitality Group.

Mitchell Yellen, the CEO and President of the Altitude Hospitality Group says he has been waiting for this moment for months.

"For us to open up on Friday, the exact same day that are able to go full capacity was to me, nothing short of a miracle, honestly I feel like God gave me a kiss on the cheek," said Yellen.

This weekend they were packed. But they too are facing the same problem most restaurants have been dealing with.

"The biggest problem for restaurant owners right now is finding labor," said Yellen. Due to their staff shortage right now, they are only opened five days a week, instead of every day.

"We kept really good contact with the kitchen so we kept our tickets to a certain amount, so if you were in here Sunday you probably would not have noticed one or two tables, but we controlled it more, so overall I think that is something we have to do for the next two weeks until we can secure good talent."


On the other hand, restaurants like Adam's Mountain Cafe in Manitou are voicing concern about people not respecting the statewide mask mandate and their own mask policy inside their business.

In a Facebook post, they wrote, "if you don't want to comply, don't come into the café. I mean it. I won't tolerate people yelling at my hostesses, calling my bartender names, being verbally abusive to any of my staff. '

Mckenzie Tamayo is with the Small Business Development Center and acknowledges there are mixed feelings.

"One hand is very excited that we are at full capacity and others are feeling a little more hesitant and cautious and truly, what we are hoping the community sees is that they should respect businesses and exactly how they feel," said Tamayo.

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Jasmine Arenas

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