WOONSOCKET, R.I. (NewsNation Now) — As some U.S. restaurants are moving into the fall season, hoping their slow recovery persists despite the pandemic, many face the new challenge of colder weather while trying to prolong outdoor dining.

One restaurant in Rhode Island is utilizing igloos to keep outdoor diners warm as the temperatures drop while heeding COVID-19 restrictions.

A community staple for over 50 years in the Woonsocket, Rhode Island area, near the Massachusetts border, Kay’s Restaurant set up igloo-style greenhouses in their parking lot.

The clear igloo tents maintain temperatures 20 to 30 degrees warmer than outside, Kay’s owner David Lahousse told NewsNation affiliate WPRI.

“I happened to see some of these in an article in Colorado,” said Lahousse. “They do look nice and I said, ‘That would be really different.’”

Lahousse has enhanced the parking lot with fencing and plants and hopes to create a “winter wonderland” for his diners.

The pandemic required Lahousse to lay off 30 workers which he described as “the worst day of my life.” He’s been able to rehire all of his workers and he hopes the cleaning protocol and the igloos that cost $1,400 each will extend outdoor dining.

“Honestly, it’s not all about the money for me,” he said. “I want people to have these jobs. I don’t want to lay anyone off.”

NewsNation affiliate WPRI contributed to this report.