ALLEGHENY COUNTY (KDKA) – Banning alcohol consumption in restaurants and bars for on-site consumption is not only frustrating for customers. It is also frustrating for homeowners who have followed the guidelines from day one.
“We spent a ton of money to bring alcohol back so that it would stop now,” said managing partner of Poor Richard’s public house, Connie Scanlon.
A screeching halt for the Poor Richard’s Public House in Wexford, a business that Scanlon said has been doing its best to make sure everyone is safe from the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our staff cleaned, disinfected, recorded, moved everything, measured and where it is supposed to be here,” said Scanlon.
Scanlon said they spaced out the seats in their bar area, needed masks until customers sat at their table, and even set up a tent outside to make room for outdoor dining.
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The Rochester Inn in Ross Township has followed the same rules. She also added a tent outside to accommodate the guests. But now, the business closes its doors on Tuesday.
“I’m tired of dealing with all this and not getting anything out of it. It is not worth being open. We are 50 percent capacity. He’s not paying the bills, “said Rochester Inn owner Kevin DuMont.
DuMont is making the difficult decision to suspend all of its employees until further notice.
“If you have bars that don’t meet, turn them off. But people who are trying to make a living, this is not good, “said DuMont.
While Fat Head CEO Ryan Bonatesta said they have also been following the rules, such as requiring masks on entry and social distancing, he said there is a stigma as they are on the south side. Several bars and restaurants on the south side have been linked to COVID-19 cases through contact search efforts.
“Being tied to a brewery and also being a bar is a great success for us, and it seems that we are being grouped into other types of bars. We are not part of that, “said Bonatesta.
“It is discouraging. For me, it’s about integrity, doing the right thing. They all gave us the same guidelines, ”said Scanlon.
Bars and restaurants in Allegheny County may continue to serve food on-site, but will only be allowed to offer alcohol once the ban is enforced.
Many restaurant and bar owners can’t help but wonder if this is the last sign of life for a while.
LOOK: Pam Surano of KDKA reports live
“Seventy percent of the workers are not here working. You have no conventions, you have no theater, you have no sporting events. Why would people come to the center? said Len Semplice, owner of the Redbeard Sports Bar.
Redbeard’s Sports Bar has locations on Mt. Washington and downtown. Semplice says that after carefully putting safety measures into practice, she feels the new county alcohol restriction was not well thought out.
“I am rejecting people because you cannot have anyone standing there. But you go down the street or next door and they have people from wall to wall and they have more than 50 percent occupation, “said Semplice.
On the Reddit social media app, a user’s post gained a lot of momentum. The publication highlights the establishments that follow the rules of the “green” phase to promote takeaways and other businesses in these places.
In response to the new restriction, the Pennsylvania Licensed Tavern and Beverage Association sent a letter to Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and the state Department of Health.
READ THE FULL LETTER HERE
The Allegheny County Health Department wants people to report any business that violates the ban.
If inspectors determine that the business is in violation, it will be closed for at least a week.
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