ORLANDO, Fla. — Some bars in downtown Orlando reopened their doors Friday after the coronavirus shut them down more than 70 days ago.
“It’s been three months waiting to come out and do this,” bar customer Lyle Blain said. “I’m excited to be here.”
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However, it wasn’t a long night, as bars downtown had to close early due to the 8 p.m. curfew extending from Tampa Avenue to Summerlin Avenue, and the 408 to Colonial Drive. But owners said some business was better than nothing.
Greg Mitchell, another bar-goer, said he was happy to see other people who he didn’t live with or work with, but he knew his night out would likely be a short one.
“We’ll see at 8 o’clock,” he said. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to shoo everyone off the streets. It’s not just going to be the protesters.”
The curfew was in response to downtown protests in response to the killing of George Floyd, leading to a clash between demonstrators and protestors.
READ: Phase 2 in Florida begins: Here’s what can reopen today
Some bars, including Casey’s, even opened up early Friday afternoon to bring in customers.
“We’ve literally cleaned this place from the rafters down to the floors,” owner Jeff Ekas said.
Capacity is limited to 50%, but Ekas said that is better than nothing.
“This is what we do. This is our business,” Ekas said. “This is our livelihood, my wife and I. This is all we have.”
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