ELKINS — Ever since Gov. Jim Justice signed an executive order in March to increase the capacity limit for all restaurants and bars to 100 percent, local eateries have benefited as more customers begin to return to the custom of eating out.

C.J. Maggies in Elkins has seen a significant increase in business, especially on the weekends.

“The last couple weekends we’ve been full,” said C.J. Maggies Manager D.J. Miller. “It was nice for it to be back to the way it was before the pandemic. And with all the takeouts we’re still getting, it makes us twice as busy.”

Miller said that as soon as Justice announced everything was opening back up, people began calling to reserve tables.

“We started getting people calling for reservations as soon as they heard about full capacity,” he said. “They were definitely ready to come back out.”

Although C.J.’s won’t be open this Sunday for Easter, the days leading up to the holiday are expected to be busy ones, Miller said.

“Usually we are one of the only restaurants open on Sunday, but we are closed on Easter,” he said. “But I expect us to be really busy this Friday and Saturday with people coming from out of town to be with their families.”

If you’re looking to have Easter dinner out, however, several local restaurants, like the 1863 Appalachian Bistro, have you covered. Although buffet-style meals are still not allowed by the state restrictions, Easter dinner at the 1863 will still be “all you can eat,” and co-owner Velora Winn said the restaurant has definitely seen a difference since the capacity increase.

“We are seeing a huge uptick in reservations for our Easter dinner,” Winn said. “I think people are ready to get out and celebrate things, for sure. We are going to be pretty busy and we are looking forward to it.

“What we are doing is that you can get unlimited refills on your plate. We will bring it to you table, but you can’t serve yourself. But if you decide you want more ham, or more roast beef, or whatever, we will be happy to get it for you. So it’s basically an unlimited plate dinner.”

The 1863 is still set up to keep customers socially distant in order to maintain both safety and comfort. Winn said the restaurant will remain that way until Randolph County achieves a high vaccination rate.

Winn also said she has noticed that businesses that offer some type of live music have benefited the most since the capacity change.

“I’ve noticed that places opening up to live music are being slammed,” Winn said. “Live music right now is huge and people want that, and they want things to get back to normal. When you can’t go to live music venues, or to concerts, or even to dinner and listen to it, you really recognize the loss it is. So that’s the one thing I know people are super-excited about.”

The state’s capacity change applies only if social distancing can be maintained between groups who arrive and sit together. Standing room for people to congregate will not be allowed.