Fort Worth bar closed and cited after opening against coronavirus order, report says
A Stockyards bar was shut down over the weekend and cited by Fort Worth code enforcement officers, according to a news report.
The Thirsty Armadillo was closed on Friday by bar owner Fred Barnett after officers asked him to shut it down, according to WFAA-TV.
The bar reopened on Saturday, using its back parking lot for more room, but code enforcement officers closed the bar and gave Barnett two citations, according to the news report.
Code enforcement officials could not be reached Monday.
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott outlined standards to guide the reopenings amid the coronavirus outbreak, allowing Texas restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, malls and more to operate in-person with limited occupancy starting Friday.
Businesses are allowed to reopen in phases, with the first set permitted to operate at 25% capacity. Depending on the spread of the novel coronavirus in the state, the second phase could begin as early as May 18, Abbott said.
In phase one, public swimming pools, bars, gyms, salons, massage parlors, entertainment venues, such as bowling alleys and video arcades, and tattoo and piercing studios, would remain closed.
“The money is running out and people are desperate to get back open,” Barnett told WFAA-TV. “For the bar owners and the small business people, we’re losing everything we have.”
Two other bars also that opened during the weekend were closed by code enforcement officers, but they were not issued citations because owners were confused about rules and they didn’t reopen, according to WFAA-TV.
Other Stockyards bars were scheduled to open, but they decided to remain closed.
Barnett told WFAA-TV he is now closing until it’s legal to reopen.
“The city, the state needs to be working with us more in a way of, ‘What can we do in a way that can help everybody open safely,’ ” Barnett said.
Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations for the virus in Tarrant and Dallas counties continue to increase, according to health officials.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 1:27 PM.