Mother Road Market is opening up its patio Friday to diners with an online reservation, ordering and payment system.
The food hall has been closed since March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
For now, tables will be at least 6 feet apart; workers will be wearing masks and gloves; and guests must answer a health declaration, have their temperature checked before being seated, and wear a mask when they’re not at their table.
"We’ve really tried to study all of the different steps that the industry was taking across the world and put in place what we felt were the safest measures to protect our own staff, our merchants and, of course, our guests who visit the space," said Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation CEO and Mother Road Market founder Elizabeth Frame Ellison.
Reservations can be made, orders placed and payments made on the Mother Road Market website through a system developed with Edmond-based TapTapEat.
Ellison says her biggest concern is a strong reaction against the safety protocols.
"You know, we’re ready for that, and we knew there’s likely to be controversy with a requirement like this, but we feel strongly enough that it’s important to protect the safety of our community that we decided it was necessary," Ellison said.
Earlier this month, Stillwater backed off its citywide mask requirement after threats of violence, and two Oklahoma City McDonald’s workers were shot by a customer they asked to leave because she was not wearing a mask.
Mother Road Market will continue to offer curbside to-go service.
