Four days after hundreds of students were packed into the walls for a Saturday night of drinks, music and dancing, Southeastern chose to close its business “out of an abundance of caution.”
According to a press release sent Wednesday, the bar has been following the information from East Alabama Medical Center, Auburn University Medical Clinic and the City of Auburn since it reopened its doors in May. It said it is ready to change its practices based on guidelines from the CDC, the state and the National Restaurant Federation.
When Auburn students and community members joined Southeast in the first week of classes, Alabama was still under the mandate of Governor Kay Ivey’s state mask that required anyone over the age of six to to wear a mask if they were in a public space or a meeting of 10 or more. folk. The mask mandate expires on August 31, unless extended.
Fall, including the football season, is generally the bar’s favorite time of the year, but this year brings new challenges, it said.
“While the debate over the impact of the virus on the student population continues, we have decided to take the proactive step of voluntarily closing our business out of an abundance of caution, while monitoring the impact of the reopening of activities. on the campus of Auburn University, “the release said. The bar urges everyone to take COVID-19 seriously and follow the guidelines.
The owners of Southeastern also have 17-16 and closed that bar as well. Jon Hyink, one of the owners, organized a GoFundMe page to support the staff while the bar was closed. In the fundraiser’s description, it says that they hope to help with the cost of living of their staff and distribute the funds as soon as possible. There is also one for 17-16.
Southeast’s decision comes a day before Auburn City Council meets on potential additional public safety measures that could limit the spread of COVID-19. It also comes two days after Auburn reports that its positive cases have increased fivefold.
Two restaurants, The Depot in Auburn and Zazu in Opelika, have also chosen to close temporarily. Zazu said it had an employee exposed to COVID-19 that it was shut down while awaiting test results. The Depot, which reopened only in June, had a position of an employee test, so it is closing and isolating all those who were exposed to that employee.
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