Happy hours are here again

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Bars are officially back in business.

Beginning Sunday, Mon Valley residents were able to sit at the bar to order a drink for the first time since June.

Staff and owners of area establishments said seeing residents once again fill the seats around the bar to enjoy drinks, snacks and sports left them smiling under their masks. 

Until Sunday, bars were limited to 50% capacity and only permitted to sell alcohol with the purchase of food. Drinks had to be cleared from tables by midnight. 

Capacity has been increased to 75% and closing times have reverted to 2 a.m.

For local pubs and taverns, reopening their livelihoods in an almost normal way was better than anything that could fit in an Easter basket.

Ryan Dzimiera, owner of Angelo’s II in Monongahela, has been operating his restaurant with COVID-19 restrictions for nearly a year.

His bar, which sits along Main Street, has been closed since June.

“We opened for the first time Monday at 5 p.m.,” he said. 

He expects the bar, which can hold about 30 people with social distancing measures in place, to be busy in the coming days. 

“It’s about time,” Dzimiera said. “It has been a long year. We are excited to get going and get back to normal.” 

Karrie Gregor, manager of the Monessen Hilltop Fireman’s Club, said though the club has survived through the pandemic, she is excited to welcome people back to the bar in a more normal way.

“It will be nice to have people back at the bar,” Gregor said. “We have been doing all right, but I have definitely seen an effect, especially when it comes to bills. Hopefully now, people start to come back.”

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