Newsom orders bars closed in Fresno, several Valley counties. Here’s what owners are saying
Bar owners in Fresno weren’t happy with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order Sunday to close again amid a coronavirus flare-up, and at least one said he will consider taking his business outside the state.
Newsom ordered bars closed in seven counties, including Fresno, Tulare and Kings in the central San Joaquin Valley, due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Tim Ferrigan, owner of Tower District Speakeasy The Library at Detention, said he was not happy with the decision.
He said his bar reopened about three weeks ago, and was ramping up. His business was at half to three-quarters of normal income.
Ferrigan’s bar employs eight workers, who, he said, will be the ones to “suffer” the most.
“It’s very difficult to do business in California,” he said. “I would love to leave California.”
Closures also are required in San Joaquin, Kern, Imperial and Los Angeles counties. Newsom recommended, but did not require, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and Ventura counties to close their bars.
Bar closures are required in counties that have been on the state’s COVID-19 watchlist for more than two weeks. Fresno County on Saturday reported 100 new positive cases, pushing its total number of infections to 4,474.
Other Central Valley counties, such as Tulare and Kings, also have seen their coronavirus cases continue to increase.
The recommended closure is for counties that have been on the watchlist for at least three days but not a full two weeks.
“Californians must remain vigilant against this virus,” Newsom said in a statement. “COVID-19 is still circulating in California, and in some parts of the state, growing stronger. That’s why it is critical we take this step to limit the spread of the virus in the counties that are seeing the biggest increases.”
Ferrigan said he has property in Texas, where the situation is “looking better every day.”
“The way the (California) government is handling this is destroying small businesses, period,” he said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered bars in that state to close Friday, amid what he called a “very swift and very dangerous turn” of the coronavirus.
Thus far, Ferrigan said, he’s lost a quarter of his annual income due to the pandemic closures, which he also blamed on the media.
“This has been really blown out of proportion by social media and the media,” he said.
Ferrigan also pointed out that nothing was said about restaurants.
“Bars are easy targets,” he said.
Nonetheless, Ferrigan said he won’t attempt to defy the order. “My business license and ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) permit is not worth a protest,” he said.
Lewis Everk, who owns Vyxn, a restaurant and lounge in Fresno, on Sunday morning announced on Instagram that in light of the recent increases in coronavirus cases, and careful consideration, he decided to voluntarily close his business temporary. He emphasized the decision was 100% his own.
“What a roller-coaster we’ve been on the past few months,” he wrote. “I want you to hear it from me directly so people don’t start any rumors about why I decided to voluntarily shut down Vyxn for a bit. With everything that’s going on in the world I feel it’s a good time to take a step back. We cannot social distance or force people to keep their masks on. In that sense, we are only being set up to fail.”
When reached for comment by The Bee about Newsom’s order, Everk said he didn’t think the spike in coronavirus cases can be attributed solely to bars.
“Bars are the scapegoat on this one,” he said. “I agree that more are testing positive and it’s our responsibility to do what we can as business owners to mitigate the chances but the truth (is) people make their own decisions on what they are comfortable with.”
He said businesses can provide all the hand sanitizer and masks they can get their hands on, but it’s up to the customers to take them.
“If customers don’t want to, we can’t force them,” he said.
A person who picked up at Slicks bar in Tulare County, but didn’t provide his name, said his boss was “highly upset.”
“It’s ridiculous,” the man said, adding that there hadn’t been any infections at the bar.
Craig Johnson, owner of Goldstein’s in the Tower District, said he had no comment before hanging up the phone.
Ryan Metcalf, bar director at the Modernist, said staff at the bar weren’t ready to provide comment at this time.
The state, in guidance relayed to the counties, said bars were singled out because of the “degree of social mixing within individuals and groups” as well as the time people spend there.
“Further, alcohol consumption slows brain activity, reduces inhibition, and impairs judgment, factors which contribute to reduced compliance” with social distancing, face mask and other recommended prevention measures.
Employees and customers, even if they are practicing social distancing and wearing masks, are still vulnerable, state medical experts say. People talk more and louder, increasing the potential for viral droplets to be emitted, and patrons must continuously remove or pull down their masks to take a drink.
Bars, breweries and pubs that provide sit-down meals and restaurants with bars were instructed to continue to follow the state’s dine-in restaurant guidance while encouraging takeout and delivery service.
The Sacramento Bee contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 28, 2020 at 1:58 PM.
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