Bars and Restaurants

Beginning Monday, May 3, New York State will begin easing many of the restrictions imposed on bars, restaurants and caterers as a means to curb COVID spread, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.

Democrats in New York will move to curb a handful of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s pandemic-related directives Wednesday, including one that has required patrons at restaurants to purchase food if they’re planning to drink alcohol.

State Republican lawmakers are blasting Gov. Andrew Cuomo for extending the 11 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants until May 6, and Senate Democrats for misrepresenting the repeal of Cuomo's executive powers in March.

New York State will lift its curfew next month for casinos, movie theaters and some other establishments, but closing time will still be at 11 p.m. for bars and restaurants and 12 a.m. for catered events at least until mid-April.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that restaurants outside of New York City, which have been operating at 50% capacity, can now move to 75% capacity starting March 19.

A New York State Supreme Court judge has filed a temporary order lifting the 10pm dining curfew for some area restaurants. 

Restaurant workers, taxi drivers and developmentally disabled people living in congregate settings will now be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday, as long as local governments allow them to be added to the list.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s lifting of Orange and Yellow restrictions Wednesday changes the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic, with lawyers filing even more lawsuits to get rid of even more restrictions.

The Erie County Legislature passed a resolution in support of a statewide bill that would place a cap on the rates third-party companies could charge restaurants.

New York State has decided to allow all bars and restaurants in orange zones statewide to resume indoor dining at 50% capacity. That decision is in reaction to a court ruling allowing nearly 100 establishments in Buffalo to do that.

Restaurants in Erie County gained a key victory in court for their effort to welcome back dine-in guests. 

Employment in the Buffalo area is improving a little bit, although that’s from a very low base this spring when the COVID-19 pandemic hammered the job market.

New York state is operating under a new set of metrics to determine pandemic-related shutdowns. But some, including restaurant owners, are finding Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new criteria difficult to decipher, and worry it will mean more eateries will soon be out of business.

A controversial State Liquor Authority ban on advertising and selling tickets for live music at bars and restaurants in New York has been ruled unconstitutional.

The New York State Restaurant Association is out with a disturbing survey, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause economic havoc.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says New York doesn’t have enough money in its budget to meet a requirement in President Donald Trump’s executive order to fund $100 a week in additional unemployment benefits.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new rules for bars and restaurants last week in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The mandate prohibits businesses from serving alcohol to those who don’t also order food and requires all patrons to be seated.