CORPUS CHRISTI, Tx. — The last month was supposed to be a time for bars in the Coastal Bend to open their doors and get back to work. Now as the Coronavirus numbers continue to rise in the Coastal Bend some are having to shut their doors once again.
"Seeing the spike in the last week going from 200 cases and now we are almost at 500 it is scary," Jerry Dalton, owner of Hi-Ho Drive Inn Bar said.
On this Saturday, Dalton was supposed to be hosting customers looking to earn back some of the money he lost during the pandemic. Instead, he has to close again; a customer found out they were COVID-19 positive while sitting inside.
"You would think that if you are going to get tested, then maybe have a little courtesy," he said.
Meanwhile other bars such as Bus in downtown, have been playing things by the books. They are doing everything they can to make sure their customers are safe while also maintaining their business.
"We feel the ay that we are open right now and the methods that we are using mitigates the risk to the absolute minimum," Ben Lomax, Co-Owner of Bus said.
Bus has been seating their customers outside at a safe distance, they have servers bring them drinks and they are not allowing anyone inside unless it is to use the restroom.
Even though many of the bars are taking things very carefully, this is a two-way street.
"It's still a decision that people have to make if they want to go to bars," Lomax said.
Hi-Ho is not the only bar to shut its doors due to the recent spike in cases. Ropers and Whiskey River, two popular country western bars, are closing for a brief period.
Today Salty Dog Saloon announced they will be closing for two weeks to protect their employees. No one there has tested positive.