BUFFALO, N.Y. — Soho Buffalo, with a few exceptions, has been closed since November, when the governor instituted what was at the time a 10 p.m. curfew for bars and restaurants.

This past weekend, owner Jay Manno said he did finally open the doors.

"The only reason we opened was because I have a dozen or so really good strong employees that I was concerned with losing," Manno said.

He said because a large portion of Soho's business is as a nightclub, it didn't make fiscal sense to stay open even as the curfew moved to 11 p.m. and then midnight. Wednesday, he got news the governor is finally planning to lift it altogether.

"I'm hoping that this means that the end is in sight," he said. "I mean, ultimately, it's the best news I've heard. I think I actually got a little choked up, but it's the best news I've heard in a long time."

The curfew ends for outdoor dining on May 17 and indoors May 31. Manno said it also benefits his restaurant Frankie Primo's across the street, which will be able to keep the kitchen open until midnight again.

He pointed out there will still be some limitations to the bar business.

"If they don't lift the six-foot social distancing and they don't lift the masks and everything else, we're basically operating like we did last summer, which means it's basically all bottle service," Manno said.

However, people who just want to drink will no longer be required to order food. Effective immediately, the Legislature voted to repeal that executive order by the governor which has been in place since last summer.

“It may have taken some time, but people were thoughtful about it and I believe the time is right now," state Senate sponsor John Mannion, D-Geddes, said.

Manno said it will be important to clarify the new rules. For instance, for the two weeks when only patio eating and drinking is allowed after midnight, can the patrons walk through the club to get there?

"Just like everything else with this in the last year or 18 months, there's so much gray area and so long as it's black and white, we know the rules,” he said. “The gray area is where we've been getting stung.”

The owner does believe both developments are positive, and he will continue to comply in hopes for a return to normalcy soon.