Fast-food chains close some indoor seating as U.S. cities mandate
vaccine checks
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[October 01, 2021] By
Hilary Russ
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As New York, San
Francisco and a few other U.S. cities and counties require restaurants
to check proof of COVID-19 vaccination to dine indoors, some fast-food
chains are simply shutting their seating areas altogether - a move that
may dent their sales.
The burger chain White Castle shut the seating sections in its more than
20 New York City locations in September, after New York City began
asking customers over the age of 12 to prove they received at least one
does of the vaccine in order to eat indoors.
By eliminating dine-in options, restaurants are forced to rely entirely
on carry-out, drive-thru and delivery orders – which are generally more
profitable. That also means they can eliminate costly labor required to
clean seating areas and check customers' proof of vaccination, and
perhaps have an extra employee work the kitchen or counter instead.
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White Castle Chief Operations Officer Jeff Carper said the chain was
"able to redeploy some labor to focus on drive-thru, delivery and
pick-up," for instance.
Taco Bell, a unit of Yum Brands Inc, said it encouraged customers to
place digital orders for pickup and delivery, adding that "our
restaurants comply with federal, state and local regulations and
guidelines to keep our team members and customers safe." Two Taco Bell
locations that Reuters visited had closed their indoor seating.
At McDonald's Corp, franchisees consider multiple factors when deciding
to close indoor seating, including COVID case counts, local regulations
and staffing levels, the company said. On Sept. 16, 3 of the 8
McDonald's locations in New York City visited by Reuters had closed
their indoor seating.
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![](../images/100121PIX/2021-10-01T101806Z_1_LYNXMPEH901QX_RTROPTP_4_USA-RESTAURANTS-VACCINES_small.JPG)
Server Timi Sanchez waits on customers at Hennessey's Tavern as
restaurants are opening for business on sidewalks as restrictions to
prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are eased in
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., May 15, 2020. REUTERS/David Becker/File
Photo
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"We continue to monitor the Delta variant closely and, as we have throughout the
last 18 months, remain able to adapt quickly while maintaining our safety
standards," the company said.
Overall, consumer spending at U.S. restaurants has rebounded from last year's
mid-pandemic lows, up 9% to $440 billion in the 12 months ended in August,
according to data from The NPD Group/CREST.
But the first mandate to check for proof of vaccination went into effect in New
York City on August 17, and the city began to enforce the requirements as of
Sept. 13.
Inspectors for New York City visited 18,182 establishments by Thursday, giving
out 2,211 warnings and 6 violations of $1,000 for failing to check vaccination
cards.
King County, Oregon, home to Seattle, will require restaurants to check proof of
full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test beginning Oct. 25. San
Francisco began requiring indoor diners to show proof that they had been fully
vaccinated on Aug. 20.
(Reporting by Hilary Russ, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
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