Restaurants along Revere Beach are now delivery-only or have closed after attracting pick-up crowds
“Too many people are hanging around. That’s what it comes down to."
Restaurants along Revere Beach Boulevard are now either delivery-only or have temporarily closed during the COVID-19 emergency.
The city’s Inspectional Services Department visited all the establishments along the scenic thoroughfare Saturday morning, encouraging them to put a pause on offering takeout service amid gathering lines of hungry customers.
Officials say the request was made to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in Revere, which, as of Sunday, had recorded 83 cases of the contagious virus — a significant bump from the beginning of last week, when the coastal city had logged a mere eight cases.
To enforce social distancing guidelines, Mayor Brian Arrigo took to the streets himself Saturday, riding along in a city van and using a bullhorn to spread the message, according to a press release.
There were reportedly crowds of people out and about along the boulevard, with many congregating at some of the area’s staple eateries, on Friday.
“Too many people are hanging around. That’s what it comes down to,” Dan Doherty, vice president and director of operations for Kelly’s, the local roast beef sandwich chain, told The Boston Globe.
The chain’s original Revere location will offer delivery service, while its other locations remain open for delivery, drive-through, and takeout service, the newspaper reports.
Each of the boulevard eateries voluntarily agreed to end take out service, officials said.
“I’m grateful to our partners in the restaurant industry who are taking the difficult but necessary step of ending take-out services along Revere Beach,” Arrigo said in a statement. “We’ve been doing everything we can to urge residents to do their part by staying home and abiding by social distancing guidelines when they must go out. There needs to be a community-wide effort if we are going to slow this concerning trend in Revere.”
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