Despite the unique challenges and heartaches of running a business during a pandemic, chef and co-owner Jasper Alexander says there was still plenty to smile about at Hattie’s Restaurant this summer.

“Although much different from normal, it definitely felt like Saratoga had some life to it,” Alexander said early Monday afternoon. “We were pleased with the business we did, all things considered.”

Increased outdoor dining allowed Hattie’s and other Saratoga restaurants to thrive, but with the warm season just about over and indoor seating capacity still limited to 50 percent, Alexander and fellow downtown owners are fearful about what’s to come.

“Having the occupancy shut down to 50 percent, while I think was the absolute right thing to do and I think has been instrumental in keeping the [COVID] counts as low as they have been in this area, it’s been difficult to survive,” Alexander said.

The sidewalk in front of Hattie’s was the site of a Monday morning press conference where Alexander and his wife, Beth, were joined by elected and business leaders. They are calling for some of the COVID-19-related restrictions on restaurants to be adjusted, including increasing indoor dining capacity to 75 percent as long as the local infection rate remains below one percent.

“It is unrealistic to think a restaurant can survive serving just six tables nightly,” Beth Alexander said during the press conference.

“Is it going to be a game changer? I’m not entirely positive,” Jasper said following the event. “It is definitely better than 50 percent, and for some restaurants, it will make a significant difference.”

Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, who organized the press conference, said before the pandemic, more than 26,000 people were employed by about 1,900 Capital Region restaurants. Since the shutdown, she says 30 percent of restaurant jobs across the state have been lost.

“That’s 242,000 fewer people working and 242,000 more people on unemployment,” said Woerner, who’s from just south of Saratoga in Round Lake. “Our goal is to make sure that number doesn't get any bigger and that we can shrink it.”

As they await potential guidance from the state, the Alexanders are considering options to extend outdoor dining season, like adding heaters, but even that can be costly.

“Is it worth spending the extra money on the heating for the extra diners that will be? I think that is what we are all sort of gently worried about,” he said.

Alexander knows the tough times aren’t over, but after almost 20 years in business, he has faith Hattie’s and other downtown restaurants will recover.

“I think we will see this slowly, hopefully, go away,” Alexander said. “I think it is likely, but it is going to take a while, and you have to just press through it until we see some light.”