Cottage Restaurant Reopens for Inside Dining

LAMAR, PA – After a day and a morning with takeout service only, the Cottage Family Restaurant at the Interstate 80 Lamar Exit has reopened for inside dining, in spite of an indoor dining ban from Gov. Tom Wolf.

The governor’s edict went into effect at midnight Saturday and Cottage owner Fay Courter said she sat for a day and a half, from Saturday into Sunday, and said customer takeout response was not sufficient to keep her restaurant open and her staff employed, this after 15 years in business. So, she said, she decided to go on social media with word that indoor dining is okay as of Sunday afternoon, as she said for “anyone who needs a place to sit and eat.” She said staff will be wearing masks and doing extra sanitizing. And she said she was fine with whatever prospective diners decide: “What choice you feel safe with is okay with me.”

Courter said since she posted her announcement, business has picked up, the Cottage phone has been ringing, and social media comments have been far more positive than negative.

Her online posting:

Sitting here on a Sunday morning wondering what to do. So many people depend on our business, family, employees 21 of us, suppliers, customers, some who yes can eat at home but for others its their only chance to sit at a table and eat off of plates as they are the ones out there working to keep America rolling. Sitting here watching vehicles pull in, read the sign for take out only and drive away and go thru the golden arches drive thru is tearing me apart.
Yes I believe covid is real but none of these shut downs make since and are not giving the small business and large corporations an even playing ground.
That being said I can not sit here and throw away the business that we and many others have worked hard for the last 15 years to be open.
I’m not going to debate my decision with anyone, everyone that knows me knows I am not a selfish person and would do anything for anyone.
We will be opening our dining room to anyone who needs a place to sit and eat.
We all have choices what choice you feel safe with is okay with me.
We will be wearing our face masks and extra sanitizing.
DINE IN or Take Out Available 7am to 9pm