After opening their restaurant in the middle of a pandemic, Akram Samuel, co-owner of Dollar Stix Filipino Exotic Grill in West Long Beach, has been preparing for this moment: He can finally serve customers inside his restaurant, Dollar Stix.

“Of course,” he said when asked about feeling excited about opening his indoor space. “Up to now, we are not making money,” said Samuel, who launched the restaurant in December with his wife, Regina.

Businesses across the city are “thrilled to death” after hearing that Long Beach will allow customers indoors at restaurants, theaters, gyms and other spaces starting Monday—a move that will likely quench a thirst for social and economic stimulation in the city’s deserted spaces.

And in West Long Beach, Sunday afternoon looked mostly dry as businesses continued to operate under shortened hours or remained closed.

Samuel said he’ll expand hours of operation if he gets more customers starting tomorrow. Now with the upcoming 25% indoor capacity allowance, Samuel can receive up to 16 customers indoors, which will add to his at least 20-customer capacity outdoors at his restaurant on Santa Fe Avenue near Parade Street. He, Regina and their three employees have also been vaccinated, he said.

“I want to see people coming in,” he said, adding that he hopes to entice customers with the restaurant’s new menu.

Akram and Regina Samuel, co-owners of Dollar Stix, stand outside their restaurant for a portrait on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Photo by Crystal Niebla.

But other, physically smaller businesses, like Gemmae Bake Shop, say they can’t reopen indoor dining even if they wanted to.

Prescilla Tolentino, co-owner of the shop on Willow Street and Easy Avenue, said that they will continue offering only to-go orders.

“We’re excited the city is allowing indoor dining again, however our business will remain take-out only for now,” echoed her daughter, Catherine, the other co-owner. “We have very limited dining space.”

Prescilla added that they also can’t offer outdoor dining due to space limitations as they’re located in a small strip mall.

While Casa Chaskis, a Peruvian restaurant on Santa Fe Avenue near Burnett Street, has ample space, it will also continue serving customers outdoors on Monday. Owner Agustín Romo said he could not provide more detail on Sunday as he and his staff were busy attending customers, he said.

Businesses in other spaces, such as Second Street in Belmont Shore or on Pine Avenue in Downtown have been able to add outdoor dining tables in January when it was allowed during the state’s “purple tier” period.

According to the latest health orders, customers will now be allowed to dine indoors at local eateries, so long as they don’t exceed 25% capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Tables will be situated at least 8 feet apart, and parties no larger than six people will be allowed at any given table.