Local restaurants ease into phased reopening

"I think some are terrified and some are just ready to get out!" said Mandy Weigel, owner of Junkyard Dog Steakhouse, when asked about reopening her restaurant for dine-in.

COVID-19 has hit small businesses hard in the past couple months, and restaurants were no exception.

Last Friday, April 24, Gov. Bill Lee issued the "Tennessee Pledge," which stated that restaurants would be able to reopen at 50% capacity.

Most local restaurants have used this time to create a curbside service and issue a deep clean. Some even used this time to remodel.

Weigel said she had spent most of her time cleaning an...