Health

Alcohol-only bars facing troubles as they await Phase 4

BOSTON — The first blow for bar owner Stacie Blanchette of Dirt McGirt’s in Worcester came just before St. Patrick’s Day, one of the best business days of the year.

“So, it’s been a nightmare,” Blanchette said.

Never mind a dollar, since the COVID-19 closure, Dirt McGirt’s hasn’t turned a penny in profits.

“Not one, nothing, zero, nothing at all. We are just a small bar, alcohol only; we have zero income coming in,” Blanchette said.

Bars that don’t serve food like Blanchette’s have been moved from Phase 3 to Phase 4, the final phase in the states reopening plans, one that comes when there is a vaccine or cure for coronavirus. There’s no firm date on when that will happen.

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“I think it’s extremely unfair for us smaller bars here to be pushed out so far when there is so many other places that have been opened, that are reopening, that have more customers than we can even hold here,” Blanchette said.

Bob Luz, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said there could be a solution for bar owners like Stacey: start serving food.

“They should apply for a food permit, work with the city or town, bring in a hot dog machine, bring in some beef stew, put charcuterie boards together and put a little menu together. And then they are operating under food permit and they would be able to fall into Phase 2,” Luz said.

Blanchette is willing do anything that could start generating some income and get her staff paychecks again.

“I would open just to make sure I’m making enough money to pay them,” Blanchette said.

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