Menifee restaurants receive OK for dining-in services

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Menifee businesses are scrambling to re-open for dining inside restaurants and shopping in retail stores after today’s announcement that Riverside County has been approved to move forward in the re-opening process during the COVID-19 crisis.

V. Manuel Perez, chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, announced this afternoon that the County had received approval from the State of California of its request for an accelerated Stage 2 opening of business. This means that restaurants can resume dining-in services, provided they follow state safety guidelines – including employees wearing masks and tables spaced six feet apart, plus sanitation measures taken.

In addition, stores that have been closed in the Countrywide Marketplace and other commercial centers in Menifee may now re-open for shopping inside the store, again with safety precautions taken.

According to Gina Gonzalez, City of Menifee economic development director, it is impossible to say at this stage which local businesses will be re-opening when. It might take a day or two for restaurants to bring employees back, move tables apart for social distancing if they haven't already, put sanitation practices in place, etc. Retail stores might be able to open quicker.
City officials were contacting local businesses this afternoon to make sure they are aware of this announcement. Residents interested in a specific business can follow the business' social media postings or try calling for updates.

Churches throughout the state have also been given approval to resume inside worship services, but it unclear how soon that will take place.

We will update this story as more details become available.