Washington restaurants face another three weeks without indoor dining

These are tough times in the restaurant business, especially for places that are new.

The soft opening for Parish Northwest in Ballard came days before new COVID-19 restrictions that Gov. Jay Inslee announced in November and extended Tuesday for another three weeks.

“It did kind of yank the rug out from underneath us, as understandable as the whole process is. It’s just fairly unfortunate for us, in particular, given our timeline of things,” said John Slagle.

He and Tommy Patrick also run another restaurant, The Ballard Cut, that opened in June.

Like the rest of Washington’s restaurants, it can only offer customers takeout or outdoor dining.

“It’s quite the physics problem because it’s leaving something open air but also control the climate enough so that people are warm enough to dine outside,” Patrick said.

They’re understanding about the need for COVID-19 restrictions but are struggling financially.

“John and I have both put our life savings on the line. We don’t have another option,” Patrick said.

On Tuesday, the Washington Hospitality Association estimated that in the first six months of the pandemic, a quarter of the state’s restaurants permanently closed.

Compared to last year, the association predicts $10 billion in lost sales for the industry.

“People need a safe outlet — people can come into restaurants and be safe,” said Anthony Anton, the hospitality association’s CEO.

But Inslee said there are risks concerning indoor dining that can’t be mitigated in a raging pandemic.

“It is beyond a reasonable doubt that infections take place in restaurants because it’s the place people sit close to each other for a prolonged period of time, and that’s just the scientific reality,” Inslee said.

Cox Media Group