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After adjusting to state guidelines, Rhode Island bars prepare for closing time mandate


Bars in Rhode Island have adjusted to new state guidelines, such as adding plexiglass to separate patrons from bartenders. Now the governor says, the businesses must close down by 11:00 p.m. (WJAR)
Bars in Rhode Island have adjusted to new state guidelines, such as adding plexiglass to separate patrons from bartenders. Now the governor says, the businesses must close down by 11:00 p.m. (WJAR)
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Closing time is now pushed up because of COVID-19.

As of Friday, bars in Rhode Island are mandated to shut down at 11 p.m.

"It is a little step back, but you know, we understand," Harrison Elkhay told NBC 10.

Elkhay is the vice president of operations with Chow Fun Food Group, which owns 10 Prime Steak and Sushi in downtown Providence.

"The bar is the pulse of the restaurant, so I'll probably let the guests know beforehand that the bar is going to be closing at 11, if they want to close out or move over to a table, whatever they prefer," Elkhay said.

The already-small restaurant opened back up in June, with bar procedures set in stone. Elkay showed us the plexiglass shields they put up on the bar.

"We can serve two seats for every six feet, and we are serving everyone on this side of the bar, so there's nothing being passed across the bar," he said.

State guidelines require a bar area to have plexiglass barriers between the bartender and people sitting at the bar. If there's no barrier, there can be either a bartender or people seated at the bar, but not both. But now, when the clock hits 11, all of that must shut down and service can only carry on in the sit-down dining area, if it's still open.

"We are still in the middle of a crisis," Matt Sheaff with Rhode Island Commerce said Thursday.

Sheaff says inspectors have been out at businesses across the state each week, and some bars continue to pose a problem.

"To go out, three months into this, and to find 20 percent of bars still not separating the bartender from the customer is just not acceptable," Sheaff said, adding that they decided 11 p.m. for a reason. "There are instances of crowding at the bars the later into the evening you get with the more drinks you have."

NBC 10 was told guidance for bars and restaurants will go up on reopeningRI.com.



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