People wearing masks can’t get into this Texas bar. ‘Stay at home,’ it tells them

Have you been wearing a mask in public due to coronavirus concerns? If so, you wouldn’t be allowed inside this bar in Texas.

Liberty Tree Tavern in Elgin placed a sign on its door with a strong message for would-be patrons, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

“Due to our concern for our customers, if they FEEL (not think) that they need to wear a mask, they should stay at home until they FEEL that it’s safe to be in public without one,” the sign said, according to the newspaper. “Sorry, no masks allowed.”

Liberty Tree Tavern shut down for 64 days in compliance with state orders and owner Kevin Smith said he’s preparing to reopen by cleaning, disinfecting and removing seating, The Washington Post reported.

Despite the ban on masks, the bar indicated it would limit occupancy to 25% and keep 6 feet of space between groups in accordance with Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening requirements, according to the Statesman.

But as Texas restaurants and other establishments reopen with increased health measures, Smith told the Post he wanted to push back against what the sign referred to as “ridiculous fearful times.”

“If we’re only allowed to be at 25 percent capacity, I want them to be the 25 percent of people that aren’t p-----, that aren’t sheep,” he said, according to the newspaper. “Being scared all the time isn’t good for your health. It suppresses your immune system.”

People in the community have had mixed reactions to Smith’s methods.

“I’m a stage 4 cancer survivor. It’s just a choice. He just put that up there to let people know if they aren’t feeling good, then they maybe shouldn’t come,” Charles Chamberlain told KXAN. “Everybody is keeping safe distances, they aren’t bunching up.”

“People are just comfortable,” Sherrill Schier said, the outlet reported. “We are a small town, we don’t have a lot of crowds. We are okay.”

Others, however, say Smith’s guidelines are dangerous.

“I think that’s a risk. I think that’s foolish,” Ross Owens said, according to the outlet. “They’re taking chances they don’t need to take, especially if they’re in public service.”

Elgin is home to roughly 10,000 people, according to a 2019 census estimate, and located about 25 miles east of Austin in Bastrop County.

Bastrop County has 187 confirmed cases of coronavirus and two deaths as of Thursday, May 28, according to the county.

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 7:52 AM with the headline "People wearing masks can’t get into this Texas bar. ‘Stay at home,’ it tells them."