Indoor Family Entertainment Centers Reopen At 25% Capacity In New York
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Indoor family entertainment centers reopened across New York on Friday for the first time in a year.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in February that places like Laser Bounce on Long Island could operate at 25% capacity.
The first families arrived as the entertainment center opened its doors for the first time since last March.
"Today, [my son] woke up saying, 'Is it three o'clock yet? How much longer? How much longer?' So it's amazing we finally made it," Hicksville mother Kelly Bruckner said.
Owners celebrated as they opened -- with guidelines in place.
Face coverings are required, and there are temperature checks at entries, along with check-ins to ensure contact tracing.
Tickets must be sold in advance with appointment times to avoid congestion, and air filtration is required.
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It's been a long year of no revenue and investments in safety for Laser Bounce, but owners are ecstatic to finally have the green light.
"The moment you step through our facility, you'll pass by our thermal scanners, you'll notice extra clean team staff," Laser Bounce owner Ryan D'Amico told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff.
Center manager Octavia Haynes, laid off for a year, is relieved to be back to what she calls a forgotten industry.
"We are happy for this opportunity after a year of being closed. We are ready to welcome our guests," she said.
But outdoor amusement parks will have to wait until April 9 to open.
With schools closed next week, the owner of Adventureland questions the wisdom of opening indoor venues before outdoor parks.
"They should have wanted us to open up our outdoor facilities to accommodate and entertain that many kids," owner Steven Gentile said. "We are ready. If they change their minds today and said that outdoor facilities can open, we are ready."
They've been closed since October 2019 and fear the 33% cap for outdoor centers is too little too late. They're lobbying for 50% by summer.
Long-shuttered businesses say they are safe and ready to bounce back.
Meanwhile, several business owners are suing New York State for unequal treatment in the shutdown as bowling alleys and casinos have been open for months.
