FOUR PATRONS EAT lunch together at Carlos Cantina in downtown Iron Mountain now that restaurants have returned to in-person dining. From left are Vonnie Messinger of Kingsford, Rick Sturm of Kingsford, and Charlene and Ed Swenski of Iron River. (Brian Christensen/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — After months of empty tables and upturned chairs, restaurants and bars in Michigan were allowed to reopen Monday for in-person service.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state health officials last month lifted the ban on indoor dining that had been in place since November, effective Monday.

Establishments, however, still face a number of restrictions due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Capacity is limited to 25%, with no more than 100 people at a time. Tables must be 6 feet apart, with no more than six to a table. Closing time is 10 p.m. Businesses also must collect customer information for contact tracing purposes.

Still, dining out “feels good,” Iron River resident Charlene Swenski said as she ate lunch Monday at Carlos Cantina, 206 E. Ludington St. in downtown Iron Mountain.

“‘Heaven’ is a good word,” Ed Swenski said. “I really, really, really like being released from prison.”

“It’s about time,” said Vonnie Messinger of Kingsford.

Jessee and Lee Formolo, owners of Sol Blu Lounge & Tap Room next to Carlos Cantina, said they have waited almost a year to get back to indoor business. They were able to do limited service with outdoor tables set up in two street parking spaces and on the sidewalk in front of the business, but that had to end by November.

“It’s been crazy. They shut us down, but you still have to pay your taxes and all your monthly bills,” Jessee Formolo said. “It was a long year, really hard on us.”

For now, only the Tap Room is open. The lounge is closed until the Formolos have enough customers to justify its opening.

The business employ 12 people in all, but half of them can’t be scheduled because of the 10 p.m. curfew, Jessee Formolo said.

“It’s going to hurt us, hurt their income, too,” he said.

Still, he is pleased to be open in some capacity.

“We can start getting back to normal, somehow,” Jessee Formolo said. “Hopefully everybody starts going out.”