GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Tuesday’s shut down of Wisconsin taverns and restaurants because of the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t come as too much of a surprise for bar owners, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t put those businesses in a bind. The order to close all restaurants and bars came on one of the most profitable days of the year, St. Patrick’s Day.
It hit especially hard for those bars without food on its menu, as those businesses could deliver and offer carry-out services. For the other establishments, revenue looked to be completely cut off for the foreseeable future.
“It’s never something you can plan for,” said Travis Engels, a part owner at Kittner’s and Stir-ups as well as the manager at Nines in downtown Green Bay.
He said he has about 90 employees between the three businesses.
“They depend on this for paying their rent, for paying their car payment,” said Engels. “Paying for food, day care, all of the above. We’re working with them individually, on an individual basis to make sure they can make it through.
Early Wednesday the Wisconsin Tavern League of Brown County got to work. Getting in contact with Green Bay’s mayor, county executives, state senators and representatives as well as the governor.
“Looking to see what taxes and fees, or even regulations, we can put aside,” said Robert Heinritz, the Vice President of the Brown County Tavern League as well as the owner of XS Nightclub in Green Bay. “You’ll pay them eventually, but just what we can put aside for now in this time where there’s no revenue coming in for these businesses.”
After a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that never happened, the Tavern League as well as local alcohol suppliers like Triangle Distributing in Ashwaubenon are coming to the rescue of bars who are way overstocked. Taking back all the unopened supply.
“They all stepped up to the plate and they’re going to be doing refunds for that product to help businesses get through that time so we’re not sitting on product, letting it go stale,” said Heinritz. “That’s going to help a lot of small businesses out as they have these accounts with an outstanding balance and now you can get credit back to reduce that.”
These trying times are calling for bars to get creative to make money while the doors are closed.
“You can’t do online sales of alcohol, but you can do online sales of gift cards,” said Heinritz. “Please look for your local establishment and see if they’re offering any online sales or gift certificates. That’s another way business can try and get some income in this time.”
