蜜柚直播 may have lifted COVID-19 masks mandates, but if you plan to slip into on North Fourth Avenue, don鈥檛 forget your mask.
Chef/owner Maria Mazon has no intention yet of relaxing the mask protocols she has had in place since the pandemic began last March.
鈥淔or me it was a very simple decision,鈥 she said on Friday, March 26, hours after she posted a note on the restaurant鈥檚 Facebook page alerting customers of the move.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand the governor. His decision is his decision. I own my place and my decision is my decision,鈥 she said.
The folks at and its affiliated restaurants 鈥 and 鈥 feel the same.
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鈥淚 still think that the majority of people think the transition is too fast and I would rather keep the majority of people happy rather than those folks who think we shouldn鈥檛 have had it in the first place,鈥 said Serial Grillers owner Travis Miller, who said masks will still be required of his employees and customers. 鈥淔or us, I still think it鈥檚 too soon. ... We are not rushing into it. We are trying to keep people safe still.鈥
The restaurants鈥 decisions come a day after 蜜柚直播 Gov. Doug Ducey lifted all pandemic protocols from mask mandates to social distancing and occupancy rates as the state鈥檚 COVID-19 numbers continue trending downward. But private businesses don鈥檛 have to follow Ducey鈥檚 order, which doesn鈥檛 apply to federal buildings that have to follow a federal mask mandate instituted by President Biden last month.
Several restaurants in 蜜柚直播 are opting to continue requiring face masks at least for the time being.
The Salted Pig American Barbecue at 11835 N. Oracle Road in Oro Valley is taking the 鈥減lay it by ear, touch and go鈥 stance it has had since opening in February.
鈥淲e鈥檝e decided that for at least the next month, we are going to keep doing what we鈥檙e doing,鈥 said general manager Jason Lucas. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important for us that the guests and everyone feels comfortable and safe.鈥
Lucas said Salted Pig鈥檚 diners are evenly split on wearing masks.
鈥淎 lot of folks are completely fed up with the restrictions and ready to get back to life as normal. But we鈥檝e got just as many who are concerned,鈥 he said, adding that Salted Pig will revisit the issue in a month or so to see where the health crisis stands. 鈥淭hat is the basis of our decision here is to be as inclusive as possible.鈥
Mazon also plans to ask her employees for input in about a month and could relax her position if the health crisis allows.
鈥淔or me, I need to know that the majority of my staff has been vaccinated who wants to be vaccinated,鈥 added Mazon, who has already received the vaccine. 鈥淚f people are getting upset because I require them to wear a mask from point A to point B? It鈥檚 simple. You鈥檙e at the door, wait to be seated and wear your mask.鈥
Meanwhile, Miller and Mazon said one of the biggest hurdles they face is finding enough employees to staff their restaurants.
鈥淭he patio is open and indoors is open at night because of the lack of staff,鈥 Mazon said, adding that she has openings for nearly all positions at Boca, 533 N. Fourth Ave.
Miller said he has vacancies at all four of his Serial Grillers locations 鈥 7585 S. Houghton Road, 1970 W. River Road, 5975 E. Speedway and 5660 W. Cortaro Farms Road in Marana 鈥 as well as Taco Loco at 7940 W. Broadway and Boulevard BBQ at 5737 E. Speedway.