Well-known Syracuse restaurant Funk ‘N Waffles is a popular hub in Syracuse because of its lively, and often crowded atmosphere that offers cuisine and live music nearly every night. So the removal of New York’s mask mandate makes a big difference.
Transcript
ZACH LETSON (:22) The news affecting businesses everywhere in New York: Governor Kathy Hochul’s removal of the mask mandate within the past month. Funk ‘N Waffles is one of the most popular restaurants in downtown Syracuse. But owner Adam Gold says the place isn’t completely back to normal in terms of capacity yet – that’s on the customers, when they feel comfortable.
ADAM GOLD (:11) We’re only like 20 percent of the way back. A lot is just going to come from a deeper sort of trust from everyone thinking that it’s safer.
LETSON: (:16) The restaurant is more reliant than most in terms of a normal environment, hosting live music nearly every night that often draws capacity crowds. The road through the pandemic included a laundry list of regulations, but overall the place has made it here with not too many bumps along the way.
CRAIG PHILLIPS: (:11) Honestly we didn’t have a lot of “Karen’s” that whole time. A lot of people were very understanding. Some people still prefer to wear masks, and that’s cool as well.
LETSON: (:15) Funk ‘N Waffles has been waiting over a year and a half to get back to normal. This is the final step in that. Owner Adam Gold says these signs will be removed shortly. That sense of normalcy is something this place is super excited about.
GOLD: (:10) It’s nice to see people just having a fun time, dancing. We’re in the entertainment industry, you know? It’s what we’re here for. We’re in the entertainment industry, so we need things to go back to normal.
LETSON: (:10) Now, as happy as Gold is, the owner says he’s someone who keeps a close eye on what the CDC recommends. So if a more strict policy comes to fruition, he’s all ears.
GOLD: (:19) I’m happy to re-apply the masks becuase I think its smarter, personally.But I don’t want to be this crazy hold out. There’s like a fine line between ‘hey, he’s just being smart and careful’ and like ‘now, he’s just being a jerk.’ I’m trying to find that happy medium.
LETSON: Zach Letson, N-C-C News
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Funk ‘N Waffles isn’t your typical, run-of-the-mill eatery. The restaurant is in even more need for normalcy than just any other eatery. Funk ‘N Waffles hosts live music from bands nearly every night , which in turn often draws capacity crowds. The road through the pandemic included a laundry list of regulations, but overall the place has made it here with not too many bumps along the way.
“Honestly we didn’t have a lot of ‘Karen’s’ that whole time,” Funk ‘N Waffles day manager Craig Phillips said. “A lot of people were very understanding. Some people still prefer to wear masks, and that’s cool as well. “
New York Governor Kathy Hochul removed the state’s mask mandate in late February, pulling back the final curtain on the final COVID-19 regulation the restaurant acknowledged. After over a year and a half of unprecedented rules, the place is ecstatic to get back to the way things were.
“It’s nice to see people just having a fun time, dancing,” Funk ‘N Waffles Owner, Adam Gold said. “It’s what we’re here for. We’re in the entertainment industry, so we need things to go back to normal.”
As happy as Gold is, the owner said he’s someone who keeps a close eye on what the CDC recommends. So if a more strict policy comes to fruition, he’s all ears.
“I’m happy to re-apply the masks because I think its smarter, personally,” Gold said. “But I don’t want to be this crazy hold out. There’s like a fine line between ‘hey, he’s just being smart and careful’ and like ‘now, he’s just being a jerk.’ I’m trying to find that happy medium.”