Beginning Friday, March 20, 2020 restaurants and bars in Little Rock will only provide takeout, curbside, and home delivery services until further notice. City administration will reevaluate bi-weekly to determine changes to this mandate, put in place to assist health officials in slowing the spread of coronavirus/COVID-19.

To assist restaurant and bar owners that may need to find other means of revenue during this time, the City of Little Rock will temporarily waive restaurants’ zoning restrictions and approve temporary uses of their space. Restaurants will not need a different business license to deliver food.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Secretary of Health Dr. Nathaniel Smith authorized Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. to make this change to current dining customs, in accordance with guidance from the White House to limit social gatherings to fewer than ten. In a press conference Thursday, Scott said “while this order is significant, it is the next prudent step that my office believes will dramatically slow the spread of COVID-19.

“However, the permit changes that will also go into effect allow restaurants the flexibility and creativity to generate revenue lost due to social distancing. We also strongly encourage our restaurants to use their vitally important waiters and waitresses in other capacities so they do not lose their income as a result.

“This decision did not come lightly. When proposed, it was heavily discussed among my staff and with restaurant owners. And I am extremely sensitive to fact that this could lead to job loss for people in our community. We will do everything we can to ensure our residents are aware of assistance being made available by the state.”

This includes suspension of the work requirement through April to receive SNAP benefits. The state will also expedite unemployment benefits to assist Arkansans whose employment status may be impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The work-search requirements has been waived for 30 days, allowing unemployed persons to receive benefits without seeking other employment. This exception applies only to those employed by businesses that are temporarily closed with plans to reopen. Arkansans may also avoid Workforce centers and apply by phone at 1-855-225-4440 or online, in order to further reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. All of this information is available at littlerock.gov/covid19.

Little Rock restauranteurs joined Mayor Scott and Capi Peck, Ward 4 Director and owner of Trio’s Restaurant, at the press conference, including: Yellow Rocket Concepts (Local Lime, Big Orange Burger, Salads & Shakes, ZaZa Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co., Heights Taco and Tamale Co., Lost Forty) Jim Keet (Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Petit and Keet Bar and Grill, JTJ Juice Bars); and Kitchen Express.

“I am thankful to Mayor Scott and Governor Hutchinson for making this extremely difficult decision,” Peck said. “We must do all that we can to stop coronavirus, and based on what we are seeing in Italy, this is one of the best ways to do that.”

Residents are encouraged to “Stay In and Tell a Friend” to practice social distancing. They can also visit littlerock.gov/covid19 to gain further insight about how to best to protect themselves and their loved ones.