East El Paso Bars Turn Into Restaurants To Stay Open

Texas Governor Greg Abbott closed bars almost two weeks ago because of the worrisome rise in COVID-19 cases in our state. Under his executive order, no bars in the state of Texas that made more than 51% of their revenues from the sale of liquor and alcohol could stay open. But what if a bar became a restaurant? That's what the owner of a couple of eastside bars did and it's working. The owner of the El Paso Drafthouse and Rey Muerto bars applied for a restaurant license and was able to show that the bulk of his sales would come from food and not alcohol.

While I see that this is good for business and it keeps people employed, is this a good idea? We are very close to opening classrooms for kids, people are by and large back at work, is hanging out in a restaurant really a good idea? Believe me, I would love to go have dinner and some drinks at my favorite place, but I just feel like it's not worth the risk.

I'm super lucky in that my job is, hopefully, secure. I didn't get furloughed, I didn't lose my job, but I just can't help but feeling that gathering anywhere is a bad idea. I really do hope that this ends soon and I hope that happens so people don't have to wait in food bank lines and worry about how they are going to pay their bills, but I think that curbside pickup and having a drink at home is a better idea than keeping places open where, inevitably, people are going to congregate.

Heavy sigh. I just hope that things get better soon.While I see that this is good for business and it keeps people employed, is this a good idea?