Indoor dining return in Sonoma County has restaurants excited and nervous.

Throughout Sonoma County, dusty tables and chairs are being pulled out of storage, napkins folded and tables set as limited indoor dining returns this week. While most restaurateurs are cautiously optimistic about the anticipated upturn in business, they’re equally worried about the dangers to their unvaccinated staff.

“We’re excited, but now we need to staff up without a lot of lead time,” said Guerneville restaurateur Crista Luedtke, reacting to the recent announcement that the county would move out of the most restrictive purple tier on Sunday, allowing restaurants to operate at 25% indoor seating. “But it’s really striking to me right now that we’re so far behind on getting hospitality workers vaccinated and now we’re moving people inside?”