Businesses in Birmingham's Lakeview District looking forward to first weekend open

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) — It's Friday and not everyone is making their way out, but many people are: Those who have missed visiting their favorite hang out spots.

"Now that it's open, we've gotten ample messages with people saying we're ready, hey, let's do this! That's fine! We're 100% with it, so we'll see," says Eddie Le, Innisfree Irish Pub general manager.

In the Lakeview District, where many were use to spending their weekends before everything shut down, the hustle and bustle is beginning to pick back up.... Something businesses like Moe's Original BBQ are hoping continues

"We're under some pretty strict guidelines, so we're going to be as crowded as they say we can be," Cody Sellers, Moe's BBQ general manager.

Which means making sure to keep half capacity and letting people know when to spread out.

"The community since Monday has really come out and helped support us. We hate to turn people away, but right now it's just get here early and you can stay late," says Sellers.

The same applies if you're heading to Innisfree Irish Pub across the street.

"Our staff, our family. We don't want anyone to get sick. We want everyone, including our patrons to be safe. We've gone the extra mile to have hand sanitizer stations installed. We roped off everything, taped off things, spaced everything out according to guidelines," says Le.

This may be the start of something new and different, but these businesses are hoping it's a "good" new and different.

"I hope that the time we have right now is just... It seems like it's going to be a lot shorter of a summer, but I think it might be one of the more enjoyable summers that everybody's had down here in a while because it all seems fresh and seems a little bit new again," Sellers says.

Not every restaurant in the Lakeview District has decided to open its doors. Several are still providing curbside and delivery.