More than 1,000 NC bars hunker down and hope as they stay closed due to coronavirus
On Fayetteville Street, Isaac Hunter’s Tavern stands dark with its front doors locked, a pair of signs greeting passers-by and the nearby homeless: “No Trespassing” and “Do Not Pee in Corner.”
Closed since March, the popular watering hole occupies a lonely post at the end of Raleigh’s main street — a largely deserted boulevard now five months into the state’s restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Its owner, Zack Medford, leads a coalition of bars statewide who have pleaded with — and sued — Gov. Roy Cooper for the chance to reopen under the same safety guidelines that apply to restaurants.
Last week, there was more disappointing news. Cooper announced an extension to Phase Two of his reopening plan that will last until at least Sept. 11. Under the phase, North Carolina bars and gyms remain closed. So more than 1,000 bars in the state and their employees hunker down and hope.
“I get calls from bar owners all over the state pretty much everyday,” said Medford, who leads the N.C. Bar and Tavern Association and also operates bars in Wilmington. “Most are not just not paying their rents anymore. Most thought they would be closed two months. There are definitely bars that are closing permanently.”
Across the state, bar owners say they respect the governor’s decision, and they understand the risks of operating a drinking establishment in the middle of a pandemic. This sentiment is borne out on their Facebook pages, their websites and their comments to Medford.
But they also insist on equal treatment, noting that many restaurants are operating as de facto bars. Raleigh’s Glenwood South strip drew wide attention in June as patrons stood in line with hundreds of people, few wearing masks, waiting for late-night drinks at places that serve wings and quesadillas with their margaritas and beer.
In response to these situations, Cooper ordered an 11 p.m. alcohol curfew statewide, following earlier moves from both Raleigh and Charlotte. But even with the benefit of serving food, a long and growing list of Triangle restaurants have announced they’re closing.
‘Breaking even or losing money’
For some, opening during a pandemic is unthinkable. Gus Gusler, who owns Raleigh’s oldest bar, Player’s Retreat, said he will not reopen before a COVID-19 vaccine is available, even though he serves food.
He added he will consider curbside service to help his staff if the federal government does not extend unemployment aid, but even that small measure makes him uneasy.
“We are not comfortable asking our team to walk into an environment we are not comfortable going into ourselves,” he said. “I understand the bar owners watching those restaurants that turn into bars late at night. ... I think they should shut them down.”
Opening Player’s Retreat with social distancing wouldn’t work, he added. The booths inside are only 4 feet apart, and he couldn’t both safely space his customers safely and generate enough business to make reopening worthwhile.
“Most of the people doing half-capacity figured out they’re breaking even or losing money,” he said.
Breweries open, bars are closed
Breweries, unlike bars, are also allowed to be open under Cooper’s Phase Two rules. Fullsteam Brewery in Durham makes and distributes beer, serves food and seats customers in its tavern, where owner Sean Lilly Wilson says, “We’re surviving.”
One advantage for Fullsteam is its warehouse-like space and its outdoor seating, which now takes a scaled-down, socially distanced capacity crowd of 79. Its trivia nights are virtual, with players logging on at home and using a virtual tip jar.
While Fullsteam’s opening in 2010 spilled out the doors, Thursday’s 10th anniversary will be a slimmed-down affair, Lilly said. He wished bar could also be open.
“All we’re trying to do is have a modest option to keep ourselves in business,” he said. “I’m sad for my friends who are in bars, where it doesn’t work for them. We’re losing a whole wave of entrepreneurs.”
Meanwhile, Medford said Payroll Protection Program loans, or PPPs, quickly dried up. Some people took out other loans, but not knowing when they might be generating revenue again, others steered clear of them fearing repayment requirements.
While many landlords have been patient with tenants of closed businesses, Medford expects evictions to come soon. Even if bars were able to open at half-capacity with masks required, “it’s better than nothing,” he said.
On the NC Bar and Tavern Association website, Medford keeps a ticker that shows the hours since bars were forced to close.
Just before 10 a.m. on Thursday morning, it stood at 148 days, 16 hours, 52 minutes and 38 seconds.
This story was originally published August 14, 2020 at 5:30 AM with the headline "More than 1,000 NC bars hunker down and hope as they stay closed due to coronavirus."