PHOENIX – Nearly four weeks after some bars and nightclubs in Arizona were allowed to reopen, at least seven have had their liquor licenses suspended indefinitely for violating state reopening guidelines and safety measures.
All closed businesses are located in Phoenix Metro or Tucson.
Bars in several counties in the state, including Maricopa and Pima counties, were allowed to reopen as early as Aug. 27 as the spread of the COVID-19 community reached the state’s “moderate” level.
To open, the bar had to operate as a restaurant and serve meals and sign a certification form by the Department of Health Services and Resources agreeing to strict guidelines and safety measures such as the need for masks and a 50% reduction in capacity.
Strips that do not feed have to be closed until the threshold of their county is “minimized” for the spread of the community, and the level of positivity is not less than %%.
To date, these bars and clubs have been ordered closed by the state:
- .Gust 29: Casa Amigos / Skylance, Scottsdale
- .Gust 29: Bottled blonde, Scottsdale
- .Gust 30: Glow shots and cocktails, heat
- September 7: Ricks Pub & Grub, Chandler
- Sept. 10: Curves Cabaret, Tucson
- 18 Sept. Christie’s CBray, Tucson
- Sept. 21: El Entro Nightclub, Glendale
In each case, the ADHSA issued a “notice to close the business for non-compliance,” with that notice on the business, as well as a notice from the Arizona Department of Liquor Licensing and Control, suspending the liquor license.
Under the order, the business must be closed until ADHS allows it to reopen and further violate executive and emergency orders.
“Continued disregard of the above is illegal, will result in legal action, and may result in any and all available civil and criminal penalties,” he noted.
According to Steve Elliott, ADHS communications director, businesses may request an informal settlement council to discuss possible terms for reopening. It is not known if any of the businesses have requested such a hearing as to whether anyone has reached a settlement agreement to reopen.
ADHSA has created a “COVID-19 Compliance” hotline and website where businesses can be notified for alleged violations of the public industry. The number is 1-844-410-2157 and the website www.azhealth.gov/Comp agrees COVID-19.
Movie theaters, indoor gyms and fitness centers, water parks and tube operators were also allowed to reopen on August 27 after the state threshold was met.
To date, 14 of the state’s 15 counties have met the threshold for reopening industries. In southeastern Arizona, Graham County is in a “significant” phase, which means the bar, gym and movie theaters are closing. Greenley is a small county in southeastern Arizona, the only county in the “minimum” phase, allowing bars, movie theaters and gyms to open at greater capacity.
The industries were largely shut down on June 29 after government Doug Ducey signed an executive order to close the business in response to additional COVID-19 cases at the time.
Here are the specific opening benchmarks for each industry:
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