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Bars close, restaurants reduce guests to fight coronavirus

By Bruce Hope bruce@opcfla.com
Posted 3/18/20

ORANGE PARK – John Lewis, who has worked at Cheers on Park Avenue for the past eight years, isn’t sure what the future holds after bars in Florida were closed beginning Tuesday night by Gov. Ron …

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Bars close, restaurants reduce guests to fight coronavirus


Posted

ORANGE PARK – John Lewis, who has worked at Cheers on Park Avenue for the past eight years, isn’t sure what the future holds after bars in Florida were closed beginning Tuesday night by Gov. Ron DeSantis, in attempts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

All bars that rely more on alcohol sales than food was ordered to close. Restaurants that sell more food than alcohol were allowed to remain open, but only at 50% occupancy.

“A lot of the employees here [Cheers] work paycheck-to-paycheck, including me. I have three kids,” said Lewis “A lot of them are concerned about not getting their paychecks. Is there going to be some help from the government?”

According to Lewis, until DeSantis’ order there weren’t any plans for the popular bar to close. He and the other employees, however, were advised to go onto the website https://www.usbgfoundation.org/ and to apply for the bartender emergency assistance program.

At Saloon 17 in Green Cove Springs, the sentiments were similar.

“I haven’t heard anything about the closure until today,” said one bartender who declined to be identified. “It looks like the economy’s going to shut down. I think it’s going to cause a ruckus. What are people going to do to live? For today, I haven’t gotten any official word. Until someone comes and physically tells me to close, I’ll be open.”

The doors at Saloon 17 were open at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Until Tuesday’s St. Patrick’s Day, there wasn’t any significant change in the number of customers, according to the bartender.

“I think it’s because a lot of other places may be closed. I took my kids out and the bowling alley and restaurants are empty,” the bartender said. “Thirty days will be tough. I live off of tips. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”