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If we’re honest we’ll admit that it will take some time for life, and business, to look normal again. People will be especially wary of communal spaces, like restaurants. Here are 9 tips for reshaping your restaurant to get customers back in the door. People are going to stay concerned about viruses and germs—and by extension cleanliness and community contact—for a long time. Restaurants are going to be hardest hit by these worries, and businesses need to adapt to address them. So what can you do? Here are nine tips that might help your restaurant get back on its feet.

• 1. Reduce the numbers of tables and increase their spacing to give customers more space. Most businesses won’t automatically return to full capacity after they open their doors, so take advantage of the set-back by giving your customers a little more breathing room. If the weather’s nice, keep the door open; if it’s not, increase the air flow. Your restaurant needs to feel open and airy, and it’s good public health.
• 2. Created a limited “to go” menu. If you don’t offer food to go, consider making a limited menu of items that are easy to cook and fast out the door. People may feel more comfortable dining at home, but they’re still going to want your delicious food.
• 3. Switch to disposable/recyclable paper menus on high quality paper. This is all about communal “touch points.” You can wipe down your permanent menus between each customer, but it’s not going to feel the same as providing a fresh one. Some owners (and clients) will have concerns about waste; I’d reassure them that this is just a temporary and the menus are recycled. And don’t forget to wipe down any object that customers touch– from counters to credit card machines– after each person.
• 4. Offer hot, moist towels for hand cleaning. Many countries and cultures that eat with their hands offer moist towels before and after meals. It’s a classy touch, and I’m surprised more restaurants haven’t adopted the practice. It’s a great way to show that you value cleanliness. It’s also a classy, personal touch that can help re-connect you with your clientele. Keep the towels warm, lemon smelling, and use tongs.
• 5. Use white linen. If you use linens instead of paper napkins, consider the color. There’s a good reason we associate freshness with the color white. The same goes for table cloths.
• 6. Add cucumbers or lemon to your water. Sometimes, health and safety is about the “sense” of freshness.
• 7. Revisit your digital marketing materials and highlight the changes you’ve made. This crisis has taken us one step farther into the digital world. Now is a good time to evaluate your digital presence, and make sure you’re reaching people effectively. Do your images, video, and overall presentation say what you want it to say about your restaurant? It’s also a great time to think about new ways you can connect during this down period, like sharing recipes? Now is not the time to protective!
• 8. Put touch-less soap dispensers in your bathroom. If you haven’t already, replace your soap dispensers with touchless models.
• 9. Offer touch-less hand sanitizers by the doors. Not just your front door, but your bathroom doors as well. Even if customer’s don’t use them, it’s reassures them of your commitment to health and cleanliness.

This has been a devastating time for restaurants and their workers. We’re hoping everyone gets back on their feet quickly.