By Lulu

Since mid-March, bars that do not serve food have been closed…bar owners and staff have held their breath with each passing week hoping for a reprieve by Governor Ron DeSantis. Bills mounting, staff without pay, and until June 3rd no word out of Tallahassee. It was beginning to seem like Ron had forgotten about the bars while restaurants were serving alcohol to the masses and gyms were allowing members to resume their normal lives.

I wrote to Ron myself saying I would rather sit on a barstool next to people who I considered to be more like family than just friends, than pass strangers in the grocery store! So, Patty Miracle and Frank Scott from the Daytona Beach radio station Rock of Daytona organized a protest ride mid-May to raise awareness that Bars R Essential too! The livelihood of many including the 55,000 bartenders in Florida!!! Thankfully today the Governor announced on June 5th the bars can open at 50% occupancy as we move into Phase II. So please get out and visit our ad clients…tip generously…realize what a strain emotionally and financially this has been to our friends in the business for much longer than the rest of us.