Johnson County’s reopening comes with confusion, caution. Here’s what it looked like
With their dining rooms dark for weeks during the COVID-19 crisis, Johnson County restaurants were primed to welcome customers back Monday.
Employees donned masks, sanitizers were at hand, disposable menus were available, and some tables and chairs had been removed to make for social distancing.
But where were the customers?
Mondays are typically slow restaurant days, and Mondays after Mother’s Day even slower. But many dining rooms the Monday after a two-month COVID-19 shutdown proved to be mostly deserted.
Johnson County began its gradual reopening, allowing many businesses, stores and restaurants to open with social distancing restrictions. Restaurants began offering dine-in service after spreading out tables six feet apart. Stores allowed customers inside for the first time in weeks, but only welcomed a few shoppers at a time.
But even as workers returned to jobs and residents left their homes for a new purpose, many said they were remaining cautious.
At the Peanut in downtown Overland Park, two signs on the door signaled it wasn’t just business as usual: ”Customers waiting for a table must wait outside or in their cars. Please practice social distancing,” and “No person with a fever, or symptoms of COVID-19 allowed on premises.”
A few customers came in for lunch, avoiding the tables that had “unavailable” signs on the top, and after lunch some lingered at the bar — with a bar stool spaced between them for social distancing.
Curbside pickup has been working for Shake Shack in Leawood and Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken in Prairie Village during the shutdown, so both restaurants planned to stick with that a little longer.
Q39 in Overland Park had a few customers in at lunch, mostly people out for business meetings. It put in some custom partitions with clear Plexiglas tops to blend in almost seamlessly with the windows. Kitchen workers wear gloves. Servers, bartenders and managers in the dining room get a notice to wash their hands every 30 minutes, and to sanitize common areas such as bathrooms, door handles, and touchscreens.
“We really want everything sparkling, looking brand new,” said Kelly Magee, co-owner with her husband, Rob.
When Kansas City opens up Friday, the couple plan to stick with curbside at the 39th Street location over the weekend and open their dining room — with its new COVID-19 precautions — on a slower day.
“We’re just being very cautious,” she said.
At Tavern in the Village in Prairie Village, a few restaurant and bar customers stopped in — some with masks, some without.
“Serving food on a plate, it blows my mind,” said Cameron Sterrett, general manager.
More shops and restaurants plan to open later this week.
Oak Park Mall in Overland Park will reopen on Wednesday, along with JCPenney and some of its other stores and restaurants. But the mall will keep the food court and other seating areas closed, and it is urging all businesses to provide masks to employees.
Along with Johnson County, both Wyandotte and Jackson counties lifted some COVID-19 restrictions on Monday. But with a patchwork of rules across the Kansas City metro, many residents expressed frustration and confusion, not knowing what businesses are allowed to open or where.
Two motor vehicle offices opened in Johnson County on Monday, for example. But that announcement led several people to flock to a still-closed Kansas driver’s license office in Mission. Residents waited in their cars and gathered at the door, hoping to be let inside to finally renew their licenses.
Blake Renuard, of Kansas City, Kansas, said he is worried about renewing his license in time to return to work on Thursday. He spent $30 for an Uber ride to go to the DMV, only to find out it was closed.
“I’m trying to do everything exactly the way they say. When they say to stay at home, I’ve stayed at home,” he said. “I understand how important it is to not spread this virus. But at the same time, when they say the DMV is open and you can get a license or renewal, I should be able to do that. The lack of communication is very frustrating.”
Johnson County reopened its Mission Motor Vehicle Office, at 6000 Lamar Ave., and Olathe Motor Vehicle Office, at 782 N. Ridgeview Road, on Monday. But driver’s license offices remained closed.
To be served at the two locations, residents must secure a place in line by calling ahead of time or setting an appointment on the county’s website. But that queue closed early Monday, by around 9:30 a.m., after about 200 residents set appointments, county spokeswoman Lori Sand said.
Officials are encouraging residents to continue using online, drop off or mail-in options when possible, instead of going to the office. The county, as well as its cities, plan to gradually reopen city halls and government buildings in the coming days and weeks.
Some businesses, such as hair salons and gyms, remained closed in Johnson County on Monday. Those are scheduled to open in the next phases of Gov. Laura Kelly’s four-phase plan for reopening Kansas. The state will determine when more businesses can start to reopen, which officials have said will depend on whether death rates and hospitalizations are declining.
The second phase will begin no earlier than May 18. Theaters, casinos, gyms, hair salons and tattoo parlors will be allowed to open. Pools, athletic courts and community centers are included in that list, but some Johnson County cities are keeping theirs closed. Bars and nightclubs will be allowed to operate at half-capacity. Gatherings will be limited to no more than 30 people.
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 6:56 PM.
