Mayor Announces New Business Restrictions to Prevent Covid-19 Spread
Mayor Grover Robinson announced today an order with new business restrictions in the City of Pensacola to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Pensacola community.
The restrictions go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 23 and will be in place for two weeks. Mayor Robinson will reassess the situation after two weeks (Monday, April 6) and determine whether the order will remain in place.
This order applies to establishments within city limits only.To view a map of City of Pensacola limits or to look up your business address, visit cityofpensacola.com.
The order includes the following:
- Restaurants in City of Pensacola limits must close on-premises service to customers. Therefore, restaurants must transition to pickup or delivery only starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday, March 23.
- Applies to restaurants, bars, taverns, pubs, night clubs, banquet halls, cocktail lounges, cabarets, breweries, cafeterias, and any other alcohol and/or food service establishment with seating for more than eight people.
- The establishments mentioned above must close on-premises service of customers, not including delivery, pickup or takeout services.
- This order does not apply to restaurants that are ancillary to essential services, including the airport, secure facilities and hospitals.
- This order does not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and convenience stores.
- All movie theaters, concert houses, auditoriums, playhouses, bowling alleys, arcades and entertainment venues shall close.
- Social visits to all nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family-care homes, long-term care facilities, and adult group homes are suspended.
“These were incredibly difficult decisions, and they are not ones that I take lightly,” Mayor Robinson said. “I know the impact on our restaurant and local business industry will be felt by many, but the safety and health of our community is my top priority. In this unprecedented situation that we are facing, I would rather take aggressive preventative action to protect the public than to not do enough and risk an even greater negative impact to our community.”
Resources for Business Owners
- Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program: floridadisasterloan.org
- US SBA Disaster Assistance to Florida Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
- Greater Pensacola Chamber Coronavirus Resource Page: pensacolachamber.com/coronavirus-resources/
Downtown Improvement Board Curbside Pick-up Plan
- Customers choosing the curbside pick-up service can park in any on-street parking space in front of the restaurant for up to 25 minutes (within the DIB District).
How it Works:
- Customers call ahead to place a restaurant order.
- Merchants take the order along with the customer's name, make/color of their car and payment method (prepaid orders are strongly encouraged).
- Customers arrive, park nearby their chosen restaurant and call the restaurant to confirm arrival.
- Merchant brings food out to the customer.
Restaurants may email DIB at dibmerchants@ideaworks.co to be added to the list of pickup and delivery options for customers. Information regarding all take out, delivery and curbside pickup services may also be shared to the Pensacola Take Out & Delivery Options Amid COVID-19 Facebook group set up by Greater Pensacola Chamber.
For local shops and businesses, the chamber has also created a Retail & Small Business Offers Amid COVID-19 Facebook group. Please consider sharing any information regarding online retail, offers and general updates on this page.
Health Department Information
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County Coronavirus Call Center is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1 (866) 779-6121 or you can email your questions to COVID-19@flhealth.gov
Visit floridahealth.gov for the most up-to-date resource for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida.