Delaware County Residents Excited For A Taste Of Normalcy As Philadelphia Suburbs Enter Green Phase Of Reopening
HAVERTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Residents in Delaware County were up early to visit some of their favorite places. For the first time in more than three months, Manoa Diner in Havertown welcomed customers inside for breakfast on Friday morning.
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"We're excited to be back. It's a little weird with the mask and everything, but we're managing," customer Vicki Difederico said.
Difederico was one of the first people to take a seat. After all, a stop at this spot is her Friday ritual, and she couldn't miss the first Friday back.
"It was so nice to see everybody. It's been a while," she said.
Under the green phase of reopening in Pennsylvania, restaurants and bars can reopen at 50% occupancy, meaning some tables may be off-limits at times.
Businesses must also follow health and safety guidelines.
"And that's what you gotta do, you know? If you don't want to spike again, use your head, use your head," Difederico said.
Restaurants on State Street in Media also welcomed guests back Friday night for the first time in months.
"It feels normal-ish. Aside from the mask that you're wearing, and I may wear if I go in there again," Alex Maio said.
Normal-ish is a good way to describe the scene on State Street.
La Catrina was slated to have it's grand opening back in March but that never happened.
"It was tough, it was tough," manager Joe Pinto said.
On Friday, they served customers enjoying indoor dining for the first time.
"We've been able to serve some tables outside. It's great to see people out and about. Everybody's taking precautions, people are staying away from each other, constantly with the hand sanitizer, washing their hands," Pinto said.
Even with all of the health safety measures in place, there are still some residents who say they'll wait before reentering restaurants and self-care establishments.
"The concern is that we really don't know what this virus can do, how long it's going to be here, if it's ever going to leave, if there's going to be an antidote to it. So you're really in jeopardy," Alden resident Maria Patterson said.
Tomi Joshuasville can't wait to get back to his gym in Delaware County.
"A very long three months. I have a little weight on me. I can't wait for the gym to be open," Joshuasville said.
Health and wellness centers are also back in business at 50% occupancy. So are salons, which are by appointment only.
Most are just happy to regain some semblance of normalcy.
Masks are required to enter any business and health experts are still strongly encouraging them in public, especially when social distancing becomes difficult.
CBS3's Jan Carabeo and Kimberly Davis contributed to this report.
