Restaurants in Greece will soon be allowed to have outdoor seating. Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich says restaurants can apply for permits at no charge.

The businesses just have to show they can meet basic social distancing guidelines. The tables have to be six feet apart and the servers have to wear masks.

"I thought if we practice all the rules that are in place with safe distancing that we can allow this because restaurants are really struggling and hurting. And if people are concerned about this, they don't have to frequent the restaurants," Reilich says.

This is good news for Joe Ferrari, who owns TC Hooligan's Bar & Grill in Greece. He says they have a huge patio that can accommodate outdoor seating, which, he adds, is also important because it gives his servers a chance to work and earn tips.

"We haven't had a full workforce by any stretch of the means and anything is better than what we're doing right now because we're here for the summer months, let alone the whole restaurant and we can't wait for it," Ferrari says.

Reilich says he's hoping to have the permits turned around in 24 to 48 hours. Once approved, the restaurants can start having outdoor seating. He did say restaurants who do not comply with social distancing guidelines will be shutdown.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy issued a statement in his capacity as Finger Lakes regional reopening special advisor to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in response to Greece's outdoor seating plan.

"While we like the concept of opening outdoor dining spaces, it is important to not get out in front of a decision-making process. The decision to further open businesses in any region of New York State is Governor Cuomo’s and his only. To go against that without permission would not be advisable. The New York Forward phased strategy is not only designed to reopen businesses as quickly as practical, but also to assure customers that it is safe and secure to patronize them. We ask for the community’s patience while Governor Cuomo takes a data-driven, fact-based reopening approach that is good for both business and public health."