Jersey Shore restaurant owners bring back drinks-to-go with the blessing of Gov. Sherrill
Now, restaurant owners are hoping for an extra boost on take-out orders as the final unofficial weekend of summer approaches.
Restaurants looked for new, creative ways to survive during COVID-19. One of those tactics was serving mixed alcoholic beverages to-go.
Now, restaurant owners are hoping for an extra boost in take-out orders as the final unofficial weekend of summer approaches.
Andy Joseph and his partners oversee four Jersey Shore restaurants in Point Pleasant Beach, Manasquan, Asbury Park and at Joe's Surf Shack in Lake Como.
"We're super excited that this is back. Some of the cocktails we bottled here. We had people who came here specifically for those," said Joseph. "It was really helpful during COVID, absolutely. We actually pre-bottled our house drinks and house cocktails."
The COVID-era carve-out rule to serve to-go beverages would have expired on Sept. 1, if not for Gov. Mikie Sherrill's signature.
"This will increase people going to more on-premises with liquor licenses because they will be able to leave and take something with them," said Joseph.
"We've already ordered the seals so we can make our to-go drinks available to customers, so we'll start that this week," said Brian Katz, owner of 10th Ave Burrito in Belmar.
Owners like Katz say the to-go business is booming. By law, customers will receive a sealed cup but must follow all open-container laws. Katz says it's simple common sense, and if you're coming to the shore this weekend, take the last round to go.
"People don't have to let the party end here. They can bring it home and have at it," he says.
