WORCESTER, Mass. - The tables under the tent at the Flying Rhino Cafe, are staying up for the foreseeable future. 

Owner Paul Barber said, "It's been a big savior to let us have this extra capacity because, quite frankly, I don't know if we would have made it without it." 

On Wednesday, Worcester’s City Manager Ed Augustus signed an Executive Order extending temporary outdoor dining licenses until 60 days after Governor Charlie Baker lifts the State of Emergency order in Massachusetts. 

It's an announcement the owner of O'Connor's restaurant, Brendan O'Connor, has been waiting for.  

O’Connor said, "We are delighted that they have used common sense to keep to push us forward as a restaurant industry to make sure we can survive for another couple of months." 

Right now, Massachusetts restaurants can only be at half capacity inside. Barber says outdoor seating provides more options, especially if someone doesn't want to eat inside. 

"That's the important thing during this pandemic is to make sure people feel comfortable,” Barber said.

O'Connor agrees. "It's working, people feel safe,” O’Connor said. “Our job in the hospitality business is to keep people safe, give them some enjoyment and some escape from COVID-19." 

And to help keep customers comfortable as the cold weather hits, O'Connor's and the Flying Rhino are installing forced air heating inside their tents. However, Barber says people should still dress warm. 

Barber said, "People are just going to have to learn to dress like you were going skiing in a ski lodge. Maybe long underwear, maybe a couple layers." 

To extend the outdoor dining licenses, the City’s License Commission will have to vote. They will do that on Friday morning.