Fertitta predicts Galveston island won't recover fully until 2022
GALVESTON -- Island businessman Tilman Fertitta is accustomed to doing things 100 percent. But on Friday, the billionaire, along with thousands of other restaurant owners across the state, will have to make do with 25 percent.
Fertitta, owner of the Landrys Hospitality empire, on Friday will open the dining rooms of 130 restaurants across Texas, including Landrys Seafood House, Rainforest Café, San Luis Steakhouse, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Willie Gs and Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co., among other concepts in Galveston and Kemah.
But his empire, which includes Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier and Kemah Boardwalk, will look starkly different under Gov. Greg Abbotts order to keep dining capacity at restaurants to 25 percent of their listed occupancy and amusement attractions closed for at least the next two weeks.
Still, Fertitta, a member of Abbotts task force to reopen the Texas economy severely suppressed by measures to combat COVID-19, is uncharacteristically OK with the restrictions, he said this week.
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