Metro businesses prepare to reopen in anticipation of Reynolds' announcement

271 IOWANS HAVE DIED. STACEY: TOMORROW WE COULD FIND OUT WHAT WILL REOPEN ON SATURDAY AFTER THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER SET TO EXPIRE. AND WHAT CLOSURES COULD BE EXTENDED. GOVERNOR REYNOLDS WILL UPDATE THE STATE’S PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES IN A PROCLAMATION. KCCI’S KAYLA JAMES REPORTS SOME RESTAURANT OWNERS ARE ALREADY GETTING READY TO OPEN THEIR DOORS. KAYLA STACEY, THEY’RE STARTING : PREP WORK BEFORE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS EVEN MADE, BECAUSE IF RESTAURANTS CAN OPEN THEIR DINING AREAS SOON IT’S , GOING TO INVOLVE A FEW CHANGES TO MEET HEALTH GUIDELINES. CHANGES BUBBA IN DES MOINES IS ALREADY ON TOP OF. >> WE’VE CREATED SINGLE USE MENUS THAT WE’LL THROW AWAY AFTER EACH PERSON. KAYLA THAT’S JUST ONE CHANGE THE : TEAM AT BUBBA HAS ALREADY ADDE THE REST ARE IN THE WORKS LIKE , REMOVING THE LOUNGE’S FURNITURE. >> AND REPLACING THEM WITH DINING TABLES SO THAT WE CAN FURTHER OPTIMIZE THAT SPACE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND BEST PRACTICES. KAYLA TABLES WILL BE MOVED SIX : FEET APART, BARSTOOLS GONE. DIEBEL SAYS WHAT HASN’T CHANGED IS THE BUBBA TEAM, WHO CAME BACK TO WORK THIS WEEK. THEY’RE READY TO RUN BUBBA’S AT A 50% CAPACITY REQUIREMENT IF THAT’S ANNOUCNED ON TUESDAY >> I THINK WE’RE IN A GOOD PLACE TO MAKE THAT TURNAROUND HAPPEN IN A FAST WAY. KAYLA: A QUICK TURNAROUND OTHER METRO BUSINESSES HAVE JUST RECENTLY EXPERIENCED, LIKE JORDAN CREEK TOWNCENTER, WHICH REOPENED LAST FRIDAY. >> WE OPERATED AT ROUGHLY 25% OF WHAT A NORMAL FRIDAY-SATURDAY-SUNDAY LOOKS WAS. KAYLA TEN STORES INSIDE THE MALL : REOPENED. SEVERAL MORE ARE EXPECTED TO DO THE SAME THIS WEEK. WHILE OTHERS MAY CHOOSE TO GO AT THEIR OWN PACE. THAT’S THE PLAN FOR BARN TOWN BREWING IN WEST DES MOINES. EVEN IF THE GOVERNOR LOOSENS RESTRICTIONS IN THE 22 COUNTIES STILL WAITING, THEY PLAN TO WAIT UNTIL EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL >> WE JUST WANT EVERYONE TO COME IN AND ENJOY BARN TOWN LIKE THEY REMEMBER IT. KAYLA GOVERNOR REYNOLDS SAYS : EXPERIENCES AND DATA FROM ACROSS THE STATE WIL

Metro restaurants said they are preparing to reopen ahead of Tuesday’s COVID-19 news conference from Gov. Kim Reynolds.The governor is expected to discuss which business closures will end and which would be extended in her next news conference.Some of Iowa’s COVID-19 restrictions expire Friday.Chris Diebel, managing partner of Bubba Southern Comforts, said his restaurant has already begun making changes to meet health guidelines when its doors open again."We've created single-use menus that we'll throw away after each person,” Diebel said.According to Diebel, Bubba’s staff returned to work to begin preparations for reopening.The restaurant will remove lounge furniture, move tables six feet apart and eliminate barstools. Diebel said he believes the restaurant is ready to reopen at 50% capacity if Reynolds makes the announcement."I think we're in a good place to make that turnaround happen in a fast way,” he said.Several metro businesses experienced quick reopen turnarounds last week following an announcement from Reynolds.Randy Tennison, senior general manager of Jordan Creek Town Center, said the mall reopened with only 10 stores after Reynolds loosened restrictions.“We operated at roughly 25% of what a normal Friday, Saturday, Sunday looks like,” Tennison said.Tennison said additional stores are expected to open this week but other may remain closed regardless of eased COVID-19 restrictions.Barn Town Brewing in West Des Moines said it plans to wait until the state returns to normal to reopen, even if Reynolds’ relaxes COVID-19 restrictions statewide.“I just want everyone to come in and enjoy barn town like they remember it,” Barn Town Brewing owner Pete Faber said.Reynolds said Monday that experiences and data from across the state will help her make decisions moving forward.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Metro restaurants said they are preparing to reopen ahead of Tuesday’s COVID-19 news conference from Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The governor is expected to discuss which business closures will end and which would be extended in her next news conference.

Some of Iowa’s COVID-19 restrictions expire Friday.

Chris Diebel, managing partner of Bubba Southern Comforts, said his restaurant has already begun making changes to meet health guidelines when its doors open again.

"We've created single-use menus that we'll throw away after each person,” Diebel said.

According to Diebel, Bubba’s staff returned to work to begin preparations for reopening.

The restaurant will remove lounge furniture, move tables six feet apart and eliminate barstools.

Diebel said he believes the restaurant is ready to reopen at 50% capacity if Reynolds makes the announcement.

"I think we're in a good place to make that turnaround happen in a fast way,” he said.

Several metro businesses experienced quick reopen turnarounds last week following an announcement from Reynolds.

Randy Tennison, senior general manager of Jordan Creek Town Center, said the mall reopened with only 10 stores after Reynolds loosened restrictions.

“We operated at roughly 25% of what a normal Friday, Saturday, Sunday looks like,” Tennison said.

Tennison said additional stores are expected to open this week but other may remain closed regardless of eased COVID-19 restrictions.

Barn Town Brewing in West Des Moines said it plans to wait until the state returns to normal to reopen, even if Reynolds’ relaxes COVID-19 restrictions statewide.

“I just want everyone to come in and enjoy barn town like they remember it,” Barn Town Brewing owner Pete Faber said.

Reynolds said Monday that experiences and data from across the state will help her make decisions moving forward.

Metro businesses prepare to reopen in anticipation of Reynolds' announcement

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