LEE COUNTY, Fla. — It’s been more than two months since Florida bars have been prohibited from selling alcohol unless they also sold food.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation made the call weeks after Governor Ron DeSatntis said they could open after 50 percent capacity.
It came as a big disappointment for Cowboy Up Saloon owner Kip Notbohm.
“It bothers me that they think that COVID only infects people that go to bars, but not to restaurants,” he said.
But, he doesn’t take the virus lightly. It affected him personally when Conrad Buchanan, affectionately known as DJ Griff Gotti died from COVID-19 in March.
“He was a great friend to me, but he was also a great friend to a lot of people,” said Notbohm.
After losing his friend, and a lot of money, Notbohm resorted to buying a food license and re-opened Cowboy Up two weeks ago.
But Sean Dunnigan, who owns Ollie’s Pub Records and Beer in Cape Coral says it’s harder than it seems.
“For us its not as simple as saying hey we want a food license, and we want to see hot dogs or whatever. We have to go through the whole process,” he said.
Notbohm knows the feeling. He also owns Celsius Nightclub, which has been closed during most of the pandemic.
Governor DeSantis held a roundtable discussion with DBPR at a St. Petersburg brewery Thursday.
“It stinks and I’m not happy for how everything’s gone. But I think the best thing we can do is get it right, and move forward,” said DeSantis.
Whatever the governor decides, Notbohm says it should be gradual.
“People have been cooped up for what, six, seven months now. If they open up to 100 percent, people are going to flock to the bars, and want to party,” he said.
He says the safest way to do it would be to open bars and clubs at 50 percent capacity and require social distancing until it’s safe enough to open at full capacity.
