Lubbock’s BierHaus Reopens to Controversy
BierHaus Lubbock (2009 Broadway Street) reopened with some controversy on May 1st.
Governor Abbott allowed for restaurants to reopen at 25 percent capacity, but as you can see in this photo, there is a decided lack of social distancing going on. The original post of this photo has been shared nearly 900 times in the last 24 hours.
I reached out to BierHaus Lubbock Friday night via telephone and spoke to the manager on duty. They declined to comment.
Personally, I have a couple of questions I would like a comment on. Was it over capacity inside? There are quite a few people on the patio alone. Also, isn't a bar and grill...a bar? I figured BierHaus' sales had to be over 51 percent alcohol, which would make it a bar and thus in violation of Gov. Abbott's order. But I could be mistaken. Why was social distancing not enforced outside?
I feel like these are all questions we, and the fire marshal, deserve answers to, because it can potentially affect how much COVID-19 is spread in Lubbock.
I saw rumors on Facebook that this establishment was closed by the fire marshal that night, but was unable to independently verify that. If they were in violation of orders I hope that's true.
I want every locally owned business to do well, I really do. It's entirely possible that BierHaus had it under control inside, but just lacked the staff to control the outside. This is and will continue to be a learning process, as these regulations are new to all of us.
I will ask that as individuals we do the right thing. We can't pretend nothing is wrong. Because no matter where you fall on the political spectrum or what your personal beliefs are, viruses simply don't care. They do not discriminate. They only exist to perpetuate themselves, and as this is a novel virus, we have no natural immunity to it. That's why it's deadly, that's why we need to be careful.
Even if you're young and cute, you could still be very hurt or die from this pandemic.
10 Unique Face Masks by Lubbock Artist James W Johnson
Buddy Holly with a surgical mask