Phase 3 begins: How will it impact the weekend?

Phase 3 began at 5 p.m. on Friday night. The nightlife scene could look different this weekend. However, some bar owners on Glenwood South believe Phase 3 won't make much of a difference — and that many bars could remain closed due to tight restrictions.

Under Phase 3, bars will still not be able to serve alcohol indoors. However, for many bars, serving outdoors is challenging — if not impossible.

Bars were allowed outdoor seating, with limitations varying depending on the bar:

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Jeremy Scott, a local bartender, said the plan to reopen bars only for outdoor service won't help much.

"It's an unfair compromise. It's allowing a few bars to open that do have patio seating, but the vast majority do not have patio seating or have enough to open and have enough income to cover the overhead for the evening," he said.

In an effort to have business pick up, several bars and restaurants have asked the City of Raleigh for permission to use parking lots and parking spaces for extended outdoor seating.

But with the colder winter months approaching, some business owners said even that would be a temporary solution at best.

"It’s getting colder," said Scott, "No one is going to want to hang out at 10 o’clock at night when it’s 40-50-degrees out in November or December."

Bars will also have to close by 11 p.m.

Despite the sense of hopelessness some bar owners are still feeling, many locals are excited for the freedom of Phase 3.

"I’m excited to get to go to these places again. There’s been a limited number of restaurants and places we can go to, so yeah I’m excited to go back to these bars and hang out with friends," said Liz Malman of Durham.

However, not everyone shares that excitement. Some locals are anxious about the potential rebound in COVID-19 cases.

"I’m a little bit afraid about that. The kids aren’t too worried about it, and once they pile into all these bars, I think it’s going to pick up again," said Remy Fullwood of Raleigh.

It remains to be seen whether or not President Trump and the First Lady testing positive for COVID-19 will impact the state's morale, discouraging people from going out even as Phase 3 officially begins.