After restarting indoor mask mandates in both cities earlier this month, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter issued executive orders last week outlining further efforts to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant.
As a business owner or customer-facing employee at a restaurant, bar, or other entertainment venue, these mandates may directly impact you.
Starting on January 19th, restaurants, bars, and other entertainment venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul will be required to have customers show proof of vaccination to enter their establishments, or a negative COVID-19 test taken under medical supervision within the last 72 hours. Starting January 26th, this requirement will also include ticketed events.
The executive orders apply to any licensed business that is a space of public accommodation where food or drinks are sold or served for on-site, indoor consumption.
Examples of licensed businesses that fall under these categories are:
- Indoor restaurant spaces or coffee shops
- Cafes within larger spaces (e.g., museum cafes)
- Bars
- Sports venues that serve food or drink for onsite consumption
- Movie theaters
- Bowling alleys
- Other entertainment venues that serve food or drink for onsite consumption
- Conventions (if food is being served)
- Catering halls
- Food court seating areas if exclusive to specific establishments
Examples of licensed businesses that DO NOT fall under this restriction are:
- K-12 and early childcare settings
- Hospitals
- Congregate care facilities or other residential or healthcare facilities
- Shared consumption areas not exclusive an individual space of public accommodation
- Establishments and/or food service locations that provide take out service only for off-site consumption
- Any location where food or drink is consumed as part of a religious practice
- Any portion of a location that is outdoors, meaning the area is fully open to the outside on two or more sides
- Grocery stores, convenience stores, bookstores or other establishments that primarily sell packaged food and other articles for offsite use, except in seated dining areas within those stores
- Soup kitchens or other similar sites serving vulnerable populations (e.g., People Serving People)
There is one important difference that has to do with licensing in the two cities. Minneapolis licenses all its restaurants while St. Paul only licenses businesses with liquor licenses. This means many restaurants like coffee shops, fast food, and casual eateries in St. Paul are excluded from the mandate. You can find more information about this distinction here.
If you are feeling overwhelmed or need support, we are here for you.
Please send us an email or give us a call, and one of the members of our Business Development team will work to help you navigate these new restrictions, learn about emergency grants that you may be eligible for, or other areas that could help you, your employees, and your business.
Rico Duran
Strategic Initiative Associate
651-395-4034
rico@ledcmn.org
John Ramirez
Business Development Director
651-395-4039
jramirez@ledcmn.org
