Some Milwaukee Bars, Restaurants Refuse To Open Friday
MILWAUKEE, WI — "No." That's what some Milwaukee-area restaurants are saying to reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic after city officials allowed Milwaukee bars and restaurants to reopen at 25 percent capacity starting 2 p.m. Friday.
While many restaurants are embracing the opportunity to reopen their doors to in-person diners after nearly three months, some are calling the city's decision "strange" and "without warning."
The owners of Odd Duck, located in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood, pilloried Mayor Tom Barrett's announcement, which came on Thursday.
"We think it is incredibly irresponsible of our city to give us NO WARNING and NO GUIDELINES for reopening. We want to stay healthy and be able to take care of you responsibly. That takes money, information, time and planning," they said.
Just down the road in Bay View, the Highbury Sports Bar, was more succinct, but equally wary of opening during the pandemic. "Human safety is more important. Highbury will not be opening anytime soon."
The Mothership, a bar located on S. Logan Ave. in Milwaukee, pulled no punches in their assessment of the situation.
"The city of Milwaukee is giving us no notice whatsoever that we can reopen during the biggest protests of our lifetimes and during a pandemic probably to distract people from being on the streets. So I’m going to say this: we will not be reopening outside of regular take out this month. Mayor Tom Barrett you have let police officers tear gas citizens of Milwaukee and MPD arrested one of my employees who was making solution to aid people harmed by tear gas," ownership wrote.
The Comet Cafe, purveyors of strong coffee on Farwell on Milwaukee' s north side said they're going to open up, but not right now with such little notice.
Mayor Barrett announced that as of 2 p.m. on June 5th restaurants can be open for dine-in at a 25 percent capacity. BUT HOLD UP," they wrote on Facebook late Thursday. "We’re gonna take the weekend to plan how to keep our staff safe while providing you a classic Comet experience. We’ll check up with you next week with our plan to reopen."
The owners of Broken Bat Brewing Company on E. Pittsburgh Ave. similarly said they're been caught off-guard.
"Would we love to see you starting tomorrow at 2 p.m? Sure," owners wrote. "Are we prepared for less than 24 hours notice to have a grand opening? Nope. Not even close."
This article originally appeared on the Milwaukee Patch
