Vancouver restaurants consider defying state ban on indoor diningSubscriber Exclusive

Winter struggles with outdoor seating turn attention to Inslee, Legislature

By Anthony Macuk, Columbian business reporter

Published: January 9, 2021, 6:00am

4 Photos

Customers make their way into a dining tent along the exterior of Beaches Restaurant & Bar on Thursday. Indoor dining has been banned in Washington since November due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian) Photo Gallery

Local restaurant owners are hoping the Legislature might take quick action to hasten the return of indoor dining in Washington after nearly two months of outdoor-only service. Gov. Jay Inslee imposed the current ban in mid-November due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Restaurants have been grappling with varying levels of restricted operations since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, but the indoor dining ban has left owners struggling to develop compliant outdoor seating areas that remain comfortable in winter.

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