Bar owners say they're ready to file lawsuit to get their businesses reopened
Bar owners across the state are coming together to call on Gov. Roy Cooper to let them reopen.
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“As it stands, we have more than 80 people out of work that work for our bars, and those folks deserve to come back to work just like any employee of the restaurant does," Medford said. "We need to get them back to work. If it’s safe to do it for restaurants, then it’s safe to do it for bars.”
“For us we want to ask the governor’s office why is it any less safe for someone to come into Isaac Hunter’s Tavern and drink a beer just because we don’t serve food or brew beer on site," Medford said. "If the breweries are open, restaurants are open, distilleries, wineries then bars need to be open, too. We need to be held to the exact same standards.”
The state moved into Phase 2 last Friday. Bars were left off that list.
“Look at all of our room here," said Tony Basford, who owns PLUS Dueling Piano Bar in Raleigh. "This building is about 8,300 square feet. We hold tons and tons of people. We are bigger than most restaurants.
"So we would be able to put someone here and then further away have this one blocked off and then put another table right here.”
"I just say allow the people that can operate within the laws and within the rules that are given, let us do that," Basford said. "If we can follow those directions allow us to earn an income.”
“We’d love for the governor to reconsider treating bars differently than restaurants, breweries and distilleries, but ultimately, if we can’t get anywhere our only answers are going to be in the courts," Medford said.
Medford said the bar owners have been in contact with a lawyer but hope to hear back from the governor soon.
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