Two Philly restaurateurs debate: Was lifting the vax mandate for eateries a good call? | Pro/Con

It’s a confusing time to eat out in Philadelphia.

After months of shifting requirements, when the omicron wave of COVID-19 hit the region this winter, the city announced that all people wanting to eat indoors needed to show proof of vaccination. Now that cases are declining, the city announced last week that restaurants no longer had to insist that patrons be vaccinated, and could give them the option of masking up instead.

The goal, according to the city, is to ease the burden on businesses, which have had to check for and enforce the vaccine mandate. But not all businesses agree with the decision.

We asked two local restaurateurs: Was Philly right to lift its indoor dining vaccine mandate?

By Robert Del Femine

We should all be thankful that COVID-19 metrics are trending in a very positive direction. It is time for our city to adjust mandates to be more in line with the data, as well as other major cities and states in the region. Adjustments in mandates are also desperately needed within the devastated hospitality, entertainment, and nightlife industries.

So isn’t the lifting of the vaccine mandate a good idea, you wonder? No.

» READ MORE: Philly ends its vaccine mandate for indoor dining, citing declining cases and need to ease burden on businesses

For many of us in the hospitality industry who have been following and enforcing the “vaccination only” approach since its first iteration in August, the sudden decision to remove vaccine mandates has not made things any easier. Quite the contrary.

Starting in August, indoor food, beverage, and entertainment venues were given the option of either “vaccination only” (with no required masks) or “masks only.” That approach was clear, simpler to implement, and was appreciated by our guests and staff. The approach was then reinforced and broadened by the city at the start of 2022 to “vaccination only” everywhere (including sports venues). Again, this was simple: To enter the establishment, you must show proof of vaccination.

Now, the city has created four new response levels, based on metrics such as case counts and hospitalizations. We are now in “Level 2: mask precautions,” which eliminates the “vaccination only” requirement everywhere.

But there is a flaw. Those of us who previously designated and abided by the “vaccination only” approach can keep on keepin’ on, or switch to masks for everyone. For us to switch from vaccination only to masks only, we have to overburden and overstress our limited staff, who are already at — or beyond — the breaking point. Switching to masks only would require that we immediately change our standard operating procedures, retrain staff, strain limited resources to explain the new mandates to guests, and enforce mask mandates — which we haven’t had to do for six months. Speaking of guests, would our guests come in more often if they knew they had to wear masks? I’m doubtful. Therefore, we are remaining “vaccination only” in our four venues.

“For us to switch from vaccination only to masks only, we have to overburden and overstress our limited staff, who are already at — or beyond — the breaking point.”

So, did the city really help the struggling hospitality industry, practically speaking? No. So why not just wait a few more weeks? For example, the city could have announced in January that, on a specific day in March (provided current encouraging trends in COVID-19 metrics continue), the city will eliminate vaccination requirements and mask mandates in one fell swoop. This provides lead time and a more clear and practical approach. If some businesses want to continue to require vaccinations or masking, great — that’s their choice. If people want to continue to wear masks, great — that’s their choice.

My colleagues in the hospitality industry and I weren’t consulted by the city before it made this sudden decision to lift the vaccine mandate for indoor dining. We didn’t have time to consider our “choice” and then plan how to execute it.

My partner, our staff, many other business owners, and I have been responsible, diligent, and empathetic to both the mandates and our guests’ needs while trying to survive. We can’t wait for warmer weather, will do our best to figure out the city’s new requirements, and have our fingers (and toes) crossed.

Robert Del Femine (DEL) is a managing partner and chief entertainment officer for underground concepts, which owns four hospitality venues located in the Divine Lorraine Hotel.

By Michele Recupido

Since Wednesday, when the city lifted the requirement that all indoor diners show proof of vaccination, the restaurant where I work, Locust Rendezvous Bar & Grille, has had a full bar at happy hour — something we had not seen in quite a while. Staff at other restaurants have told me they have also seen a dramatic increase in business. It was difficult to get a reservation in most places on Saturday night in town.

It’s such a relief.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, but the restaurant industry seems to still be taking hit after hit. Even with government loans giving us a lifeline, we still struggled on a daily basis. In January, when Mayor Jim Kenney made it mandatory for all eating establishments to require proof of vaccination to enter, our entire future was thrown into jeopardy.

Coming off the holiday, January is traditionally a difficult month in the restaurant industry, but this year was extremely tight. We watched our business plummet to levels we had not seen in months.

In Center City, many people still haven’t returned to the office, so restaurants depend on tourists and business people from out of town. That traffic isn’t enough to keep us going.

» READ MORE: COVID-19 cases are declining around the Philly area, bringing cautious hope that omicron has peaked

Even visitors to Philadelphia were burdened by the vaccine mandate, turned away from local restaurants because they either were not vaccinated or did not have their cards to show as proof (many come from cities that require only a mask). Weddings and conventions opted for relocation to the suburbs as well.

Plus, the ongoing spike in crime in Center City has kept people from other parts of Philadelphia that border New Jersey and the suburbs from venturing into Center City. Why travel into town when there are too many restrictions and other options are so close by, which don’t require any proof of vaccination to enter?

During the vaccine mandate, our customers went elsewhere. We are associated with a tavern in New Jersey, located two miles from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. Its parking lot was filled with cars with Pennsylvania tags. Its phone rang off the hook asking if vaccine cards were required to enter.

If you think that six friends who have plans to eat together will shun a friend who isn’t vaccinated just so they can go downtown, you are mistaken. Instead, they go somewhere where everyone can enjoy themselves. So while the mandate was in place, restaurants in Center City suffered while places in the suburbs such as Bucks County and Collingswood got our clientele.

“While the mandate was in place, restaurants in Center City suffered while places in the suburbs such as Bucks County and Collingswood got our clientele.”

Philadelphia should never have forced restaurants and bars to require proof of vaccination cards; it should always have been up to the individual establishment, like a dress code. This gives the patron a choice to still come into our neighborhood and have other options. If you are fearful of this virus, there are places you can choose to patronize that still require a card to enter. By forcing everyone to comply, the city created a ghost town.

We have followed all the “rules” that have continued to chip away at what was once such a great city: soda tax, liquor tax, plastic bag ban. And what’s been the end result? Empty bars, restaurants, and hotels.

We are grateful that this vaccine card mandate was lifted. Hopefully, this is the first step to making Philadelphia the city it once was.

Michele Recupido is the general manager at Locust Rendezvous Bar & Grille.