CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — In addition to the beach restrictions being extended, Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales pointed to the state's closure of bars as another way to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The closure, however, is taking its toll on local bars.
Nearly 800,000 workers have lost their jobs since March, according to the Texas Restaurant Association. Some bar owners took legal action to quash Texas Governor Greg Abbott's executive order that essentially shut down the industry.
3News met with a couple of Corpus Christi pub owners who tell us they're facing extremely hard times, affecting not just them, but all the people that depend on them.
"I'm not sure how you can shave off a small section of the hospitality industry and just say it's our fault," Kristin and Keece McPherson, owners of Murdy's said.
The McPherson's said the fight is about one industry being targeted as the sole reason for the spike in cases. With his wife and baby, McPherson said they're hurting.
"When we found out we were pregnant, we started putting money away for this little man's college," McPherson said. "His college money is what's actually keeping us afloat at this point."
The McPherson's own two bars in Corpus Christi. A lot of folks are depending on them and the success of their business.
"We employ about 30 people and these people, they have families, they have school, you know, they have their bills," McPherson said.
On Friday, June 26, Abbott shut down bars again and scaled back restaurant capacity to 50-percent. The order states, "people shall not visit bars or similar establishments that hold a permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission."
That specific wording is hurting business bars across Texas.
"You've closed us down for another month and the numbers are still going up, so was it us? McPherson said. "How did we do it? How are we still contributing to the increasing numbers when the numbers are still continuing to go up and we've been closed for all this time."
The owner of the House of Rock Casey Lane evolved his bar and nightclub business to help him and his employees make it through.
"We're taking it day by day, it's rough," Lane said. "It's not like it used to be. We're doing curbside service and deliveries. Right now, we're temporarily closed inside trying to get our permit changed so we can reopen as a restaurant. We're down considerably from last year and from last month as well."
The business owners we spoke with say when possible, shop local, spend local. The McPherson's even sent out a plea to the governor.
"Please, Governor Abbott, let us open up again so I don't have to sell my toys," McPherson said.
In the end, these bar owners are survivors and solid business people. They know the pandemic will end, but their concern is whether they can outlast it.
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