A step toward normalcy

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on June 9, 2020

After being closed for almost three months, Hank’s Place in Chadds Ford Township is up and running again, albeit not for indoor dining. Owners Anthony and Katie Young applied for the newly enacted temporary permit allowing for outdoor dining. The restaurant is also now providing curbside side pickup.

Members of the Cloudy and Porritt families on Monday enjoyed their first chance to eat at Hank's Place in three months. Kathleen Cloudy, of Kennett Square, said eating at a restaurant after three months of lockdown made her feel free.

Brandon Porritt said he's delighted that small businesses can start reopening now that the Southeastern region of the state is out of the red and into the yellow.

Hank's Place owners Anthony and Katie Young capitalized on an ordinance the Chads Ford Township Board of Supervisors passed on Saturday morning. The ordinance allows restaurateurs to apply for a special permit to provide outdoor dining at restaurants that otherwise can't serve outside. Parking lots and lawn areas may be used if the township approves the restaurant's application based on a set of conditions.

Anthony Young said there would be seating along the Route 1 and Creek Road sides of the parking lot.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.