Bars, restaurants endure new state order
Local bars and restaurants are battening down the hatches in anticipation of another order from state health officials.
“We can't afford to lose our license or be fined,” said Bonnie Rakarich, who co-owns the Monroe Hotel, located at 400 E. Jefferson St. in Butler, with her husband. “What can you say about this?”
The Monroe Hotel will open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, but with some modifications.
“The lounge will be open, minus the alcohol sales after 5 o'clock,” Rakarich said.
State Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Gov. Tom Wolf issued a number of updated orders Monday, including one that imposed a one-day restriction on alcohol sales after 5 p.m., citing concerns that people celebrating the holidays will spread the virus further.The restriction is for Wednesday, and while some venues will remain open, others plan to give their employees an unwanted day off.Jim Ellis, owner of the Serventi's Restaurant at 473 Airport Road in Penn Township, said he will not open the restaurant Wednesday because it was already on shortened hours due to pandemic restrictions.“It's disheartening. In the restaurant industry, that's a really good night,” Ellis said.“I feel bad for the employees. They were counting on a day's pay, and for the servers it's usually a good night,” he said.Ellis said he was shocked the department made the decision, but his business has withstood the tests of this pandemic thus far through the support of its patrons and a good crew of employees.“We're just trying to make the best of it,” he said.Other businesses are focusing on their takeout, but that too limits hours for staff.Dan Kos, owner of Missing Links Brewery at 891 Evans City Road in Renfrew, said he had to call off most of his kitchen staff and all of his waiters.He said they will offer takeout only from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.Kos said the decision about Wednesday was frustrating.“Businesses are already following these rules the best they can,” he said. “Not only does it kill the business, but it's really detrimental for our servers.”Kos said he has also been frustrated by a lack of evidence provided by the governor and Department of Health, justifying the extreme restrictions on bars and restaurants.He said it's particularly hard to watch his own staff struggle to get the hours they need to sustain their families, but bigger box stores can stay open on Black Friday, although at 75 percent of their maximum capacity.
“It's rough. Those situations are all OK, but the restaurants are bad, and you don't have facts on either one of them,” Kos said.Rakarich said in the future, she hopes some funding will find its way to businesses that continue to struggle with each new order, such as the one on Wednesday.“You can understand where the government is coming form, but also with no help,” Rakarich said. “We're still running at 25% capacity and struggling to meet our bill.”Kos said he hopes state officials re-evaluate their decisions or at least provide the data that supports it.“That's a terrible shame. We can't keep doing that,” he said. “What's next? The day before Christmas Eve is next. New Year's Eve is next.”Rakarich said although it is a tough time to be in the hospitality industry, many people in the industry have supported one another.She said the hotel's takeout service has been steadily busy, and she and her husband have consistently ordered from other local restaurants themselves.“We just can't thank our customers enough,” she said.Rakarich said she hopes people will take the mitigation efforts seriously, so things may return to normal.“If everybody does what they're asking, I can see this being alleviated,” she said.
