Local bars remain open despite COVID-19 concerns

Many Bakersfield bars remain open despite Governor's directive guidance to shut down

AND STARTING TO MAKE SERIOUSCHANGES.BUT OTHERS ARE NOT FOLLOWING THERECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR.THE KERN COUNTY COMMUNITY ISSTARTING TO TAKE NOTICE OF THECORONAVIRUS"AND AS A CONSEQUENCE WEARE DIRECTING THAT WE REDUCETHE CURRENT OCCUPANCY WITHINTHESEESTABLISHMENTS."JUST 24 HOURS AGO--- GOVERNORGAVIN NEWSOM DIRECTING ALLBARS, NIGHTCLUBS AND PUBS TOSHUT DOWN-ANDRESTAURANTS TO DECREASE CAPACITYOF CUSTOMERS BYHALF..BUT TODAY ----PRESIDENTDONALD TRUMP TIGHTENING UPON THOSE GUIDELINES PREVIOUSLYSPELLED OUT FORBUSINESSES."AVOID GATHERING IN GROUPS OFMORETHAN 10 PEOPLE."TOSS IT SALAD COMPANY BUSINESSOWNER GABBY GONZALEZIS NOW MAKING SOME CHANGES TOHER DOWNTOWNRESTAURANT FOLLOWING THE ORDERSFROM NEWSOM AND THEPRESIDENT."WE'LL WERE REMAINING OPEN WEDID SHORTEN OUR OURS WE OPEN AT10 AND CLOSE AT TWO."OTHER PLACES LIKE THE ALLEY CATBAR, JIN SUSHI THE PADREHOTEL RESTAURANT BAR AND GRILLREFUSING TO GIVESTATEMENTS TO 23ABC NEWS ABOUTCHANGES IN HOURS,CAPACITY AND SOCIAL DISTANCINGPRACTICES -BUTALL THREE ESTABLISHMENTS WEREVISIBLY OPEN TO THEDAILY RESTAURANT AND BARCUSTOMERS.THE SILVER FOX BAR IN DOWNTOWNBAKERSFIELD ISALSO OPEN AS OF NOW.BUT GONZALEZ IS FOCUSING ONMAKING IT EASIER AND SAFER ONHER CUSTOMERS TO STILL GET THENUTRITIOUS FOOD OPTIONS FROMDOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD."WERE ABLE TO DELIVER LOCALMAYBEA MILE RADIUS."GONZALEZ SAYS NO ONE IS ALLOWEDEAT AT HER RESTAURANTAS OF NOW-BUT GRUB HUB, UBEREATS AND POSTMATES ARESTILL DELIVERING HER SALADSFRESH TO CUSTOMERS WHOARE FURTHER AWAY AND CAN'T PICKUP FOOD FROM IN STORE.AGNEY'S COFFEE COMPANY IS ALSOSTAYING OPEN BUT MAKING SOMECHANGES TO THE MORNING ROUTINE."WE ALSO ARE SANITIZINGEVERYTHING MULTIPLE TIMES HOURLYAND WE ARE DOWN TO SINGLE USECOMPONENTSUNLESS SOMEONE ASKS USSPECIFICALLY FOR A MUG."DAGNEY'S COFFEE MANAGER, KELSEYSTILL SAYS PRIORTO THE NEW RESTAURANT GUIDELINESFROM THEGOVERNMENT, SALES WERE ALREADYDOWN SINCE THECORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK."TRYING TO CONVEY TO EVERYBODYTHATSUPPORTING THE LOCAL GUYS RIGHTNOW IS REALLY IMPORTANT."BUSINESS OWNERS TELLING 23ABCALL THEY CAN DO NOW ISSTAY POSITIVE WHILE STILLSUPPORTING THEIRCUSTOMERS EVERYDAY NEEDS."I JUST CAN'T HELP IT THIS ISJUST MYENERGY TO STAY POSITIVE."NOW SOME OF THE MAIN BARS HEREIN DOWNTOWNBAKERSFIELD ARE THE PADRE ANDTHE ALLEY CAT-BOTH OF WHICHARE STILL OPEN AT THIS MOMENTDESPITE THE GOVERNOR ANDTHE PRESIDENTS HEALTH AND SAFETYGUIDELINES.BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITORLOCAL BARS, PUBS ANDWINERIES TO SEE IF AND WHEN THEYDECIDE TO FOLLOW THEGUIDELINES SPELLED OUT.LIVE IN DOWNTOWN..AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING YOU THELATEST UPDATES ON THE