Local bars hopeful they have made it through worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic with new order

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia businesses are rejoicing after the Columbia/Boone County Health Department reported it was lifting restrictions on hours for restaurants, bars and entertainment venues on Wednesday.

During a community briefing, local health and city leaders announced a new health order that will allow these venues to stay open until midnight instead of 10:30 p.m.

Scott Clardy with the health department said the original, tighter restrictions were put into place because the department found the later businesses were open the more packed they were. He said the numbers now show that if businesses enforce the guidelines, trends can improve.

Businesses owners and employees said the extra hour and a half will make a huge difference.

James Kanne owns 9th Street Public House in downtown Columbia. The bar will celebrate its seventh anniversary on Valentine's.

"Another hour and a half of when we do business, the biggest business we do, is huge if not a bigger step. I mean that's, the nature of our business goes until midnight," Kanne said.

The health department announced the decision while relaying recent numbers.

Leaders announced the number of people who have been vaccinated in Boone County is higher than the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19. They also announced hospitalizations are down, including among Boone County residents.

The health department also said there has not been a spike in cases in correlation with college students returning.

Kanne said since the students have been back, they have been compliant with the local health order and willing to follow health guidelines.

He also said college students, not only add business but also make up a portion of the workforce.

"I attest to the University of Missouri for doing a good job, being able to get students back, which is a huge part of our economy, obviously," he said. "They stimulate certainly the bar scene. You know, they stimulate a lot of jobs. Not just bars, but everything."

He said the numbers have shown him, this far into the pandemic, more people are comfortable going to places like bars. Kanne said the looser restrictions give local businesses hope that they have made it through the worst part of the pandemic.

"It's like, 'Alright man. We made it. Like, we did this. We got through it, and now we get to get back to being successful, making money, and, you know, we weathered the storm,'" he said. "Local businesses are very tight-knit, you know, we work together and we support each other and this gives us a lot of hope and excitement to get back to where we were."

Eric Bryda is bar manager at Pressed. Shana Trager is the operations manager. They also said the extended hours would bring in a lot more business.

"The business is there. For sure we've seen it. As soon as those students came back into town, I mean, we've been very very steady. Very busy for, at least for the weekends for sure," Bryda said. "I think that the need, the want is there for a space to be open that late."

Trager also emphasized, for bars especially, a majority of their business is late in the evening or night.

"I think for our business, especially because we are specifically a bar we don't open until later in the afternoon. We're not like a place that serves lunch throughout the day. That expansion of our hours is increasing, I mean it's going to increase our sales immensely," Trager said.

She said staff at Pressed are typically shooing people at 10:30 p.m. when they close under the current order, which is frustrating because it is impacting sales.

Trager said in preparation for the new order they will bring on more staff for the weekends.

Bryda said he also feels like more people are comfortable going out during the pandemic now because a precedent has been set that health guidelines will have to be followed at local businesses.

Press takes people's temperature as they come into the door and enforces social distancing and mask-wearing. Bryda said people are typically willing to follow the guidelines, although they sometimes have to remind. Trager and Bryda said they think vaccinations help people feel more comfortable being in public spaces.

Bryda said if these venues continue to enforce the rules, he hopes restrictions can be pulled back even further.

"We have to keep, hold steady, hold the line of what we've been doing, and, yeah, it may be a little harder as the night goes on but, I mean, that's how we've gotten to the point where we're at," he said.

"I think, yes, people are going to drink more but I don't think COVID magically comes out at 11 o'clock at night. I think it's still just being diligent with our customers," Trager said.

Kanne, Trager and Bryda said they are confident that the health department will not have to put tighter restrictions in as long as people follow the local health order.

Trager and Bryda said even though that is the case, they are ready to adjust again if needed as things change daily during the pandemic.