This Neighborhood Bar Is Not Going Down Without a Fight

Just days after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a global pandemic in March, California issued orders that essentially closed down bars, only allowing establishments to remain open if all they provided was beer and wine take-out service. After a “week of freaking out,” Russell said, she found that her license allowed her to sell beer and wine for off-the-premises consumption.

Then, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control allowed for bars to offer “bottle service,” or to sell bottles of spirits to customers. While Russell said she can’t compete with supermarkets and liquor stores on price, she found that “people are buying beer, wine and spirits from us to support us, not because it’s cheaper.”

Still, even with loyal neighborhood patrons, Russell said her revenue has dropped 90%.

What helped sales a little more there was when the ABC allowed for bars to sell cocktails to go, allowing the Fireside to be a little more of a bar than a retailer. All told, it took about two months to progress from the shutdown order to be able to sell to-go cocktails, Russell said.

Then, as the four-month anniversary of California’s original ban approached, COVID-19 rates surged so much in the state that Gov. Gavin Newsom scaled back re-opening the economy, and ordering, among other things, that all bars close, even those that were offering outdoor or takeout service. That essentially brought all operations at the Fireside to a close.

“It was scary for a minute,” Russell said. That’s because a few days later Alameda county applied for and…