‘Out of hand’ patio ‘enrages’ Boiseans. Restaurant vows changes, keeps pouring drinks.

When David Andrews drove through Hyde Park on Saturday, he could barely believe his eyes.

Customers were standing around drinking beer and cocktails on the patio at the Sun Ray Cafe, 1602 N. 13th St. It wasn’t packed, Andrews says, but “the space was filled.”

“Tables might have been 6 feet away from each other, but the people weren’t,” says Andrews, a North End resident. “I think the shocking thing was the sense of congregation. People were walking around. It just felt like an active restaurant.

“It enraged me. I wanted to call the general manager. I wanted to call the police.”

That day, a post on a North End Facebook group wondered “Is the Sun Ray Cafe open?” Documentation of the throng — and forceful opinions — quickly ensued.

“I saw the same this afternoon,” one commenter observed, “called them and left a voicemail saying, ‘REALLY, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.’ I thought the North End was better than this.”

“To those complaining,” countered another, “find something better to do with your quarantine.”

The Sun Ray Cafe is open — for takeout and delivery, not dine-in food. Per the citywide order from Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, and the statewide order from Idaho Gov. Brad Little.

The popular pizza destination sells beer and cocktails, too. Patrons are allowed to stand at tables on the patio and enjoy a drink while waiting for food, general manager Todd Martin said in a phone interview.

Lured by warm weather, some Boiseans took the opportunity to socialize last weekend, Martin said. “On Saturday, it appeared from certain vantage points that we were really busy, but it wasn’t as bad as people were posting. ... But Sunday, it did get out of hand.”

A photo on the North End Facebook thread claimed to count 46 people.

“I don’t know if it was that many,” Martin said. “It could have been.”

Consequently, he closed the restaurant at 6:15 p.m Sunday, nearly two hours early, he said.

A situation like that “will not happen again,” Martin said.

Martin posted a message on the Sun Ray Cafe Facebook page Monday, addressing Boiseans concerned that the restaurant was not taking the coronavirus and social distancing seriously.

“We know this weekend got out of hand on our patio, and we are sorry some of you feel the way you do,” Martin wrote. “It was nowhere in our intentions to violate any of the current safety guidelines, but we see that there were a few times that it appeared to have gotten out of control.”

That said? “I believed our community was above blatant bullying tactics and threats,” Martin added, “but I was quickly shown how fast so many will jump on grabbing their pitchforks and torches and rush to the mob mentality.”

Like many small businesses, the Sun Ray Cafe is trying to navigate the pandemic and survive, Martin said by phone. Twenty tables without seats were separated into staged areas, providing room for parties to stay apart, he said. Tables were regularly disinfected, he said. Signs ask patrons to observe social distancing.

The Sun Ray will come up with a “whole new game plan,” he said. But the restaurant plans to continue to let people stand while sipping beer and cocktails outside.

“It’s still a learning process for us,” Martin said. “We’re working on coming up with a process of allowing people to come in, order food, get a drink while they wait. They’re not supposed to be eating on our patios and stuff. What happened was too many people started taking advantage of that and kind of hung out. We don’t want that. We want them to have a little bit of sense of normalcy, where they can get a drink ... and then go home for the food.”

To prevent a future crowd, Sun Ray staff will “police” the patio, he said. “New measures are going to be established immediately ...,” he said. Those could include shorter time limits and monitoring the number of customers allowed on the property.

“I cannot change people’s perception on what they feel is right or wrong, though, so I’m sure some people are going to be upset with us regardless.”

That appeared evident on social media, he acknowledged.

“I hate seeing our community come to this,” Martin said. “Because we are split down the middle, I feel. And it’s just very sad.”

Andrews said he was bothered by what he witnessed. “I’ve never seen any other place doing what was going on there,” he said. “It was totally in defiance of what I think was meant to be the outcome of the (mayor’s) order. And it seemed blatant.”

Driving through the intersection with his family, Andrews said, he slowed down.

“We were sort of looking at all the people on the patio, and they were all looking back — almost proudly?”

“I get that people are impatient,” Andrews said. “And I get that it’s difficult, and it was a nice evening. ... It’s a sucky situation for everybody. But that’s not going to help beat the curve and all that stuff we’re trying to do.”

Still, drinks will continue to flow at the Sun Ray. Families will keep riding bikes there to order takeout food and head to Camel’s Back Park. And some customers will get tearful experiencing an environment that loosely resembles everyday Idaho life, Martin said.

“When they come down here, it’s very emotional sometimes,” he said. “People are happy that we’re open, we’re providing them a sense of normalcy.”

This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 2:11 PM.