Pismo Beach bar closes after customers test positive for coronavirus
A bar in Pismo Beach has closed until further notice after some of its regular customers tested positive for coronavirus.
Boardroom Surf Pub announced via Facebook on Friday that it’s closing because some patrons who had been “in and out of our place all weekend” tested positive for COVID-19.
The bar, which is located on Hinds Avenue near the pier in Pismo Beach, said that the decision to shut its doors came after “much deliberation.”
“We feel at this time it’s in our and your best interest to close up for the weekend to err on the side of caution,” Boardroom Surf Pub said in its Facebook post. “We will keep everyone updated as much as we can. Thank you for all the support and love.”
Bar owner Steven Norwood said that a woman who he called an acquaintance of the bar staff had been celebrating a birthday with a group of friends. She and another woman both tested positive for COVID-19.
“She is one of our regulars and we want to be as safe as we can,” Norwood said. “It was a really tough decision to close, but this is very sensitive right now.”
Pub owner describes experience
Norwood said that other friends in the group tested negative and he was aware that one of the woman who tested positive was asymptomatic thus far.
He said that it has been like walking a “tightrope” to follow all the rules and regulations and adequately run a food and beverage operation.
“We’re going to be sanitizing a lot and cleaning,” Norwood said. “We plan to reopen again after the weekend. It’s hard to say. It will be a week out at most.”
Norwood said the business operates a restaurant as well as bar service, and will adjust accordingly to any further shutdowns.
“As a business owner, I don’t want that to happen,” Norwood said. “Everybody just has to play by the rules.”
Norwood said it’s difficult to know who’s coming into the business from out of the area, or from outside counties with more COVID-19 cases and more risk of spread.
“You can’t really go up to someone and say ‘Hey, are you from around here?” Norwood said. “It’s just a weird situation.”
But Norwood said a lot of work has gone into the business over the past 10 years and he’ll continue to work hard to keep it going.
“If there’s another shutdown, that’s going to mean a lot of businesses will be in pretty bad shape and might not come out of this,” Norwood said.
Several social media commenters expressed appreciation for the business’ proactive measures.
“Thank you for doing the right thing,” one commenter wrote. “Actions like this will keep us coming back once everything settles.”
“I’m glad you’re erring on the side of safety,” another wrote. “I’m sure this has been an insanely tough period of time for your business, and I’d hate to see your business go away, but I’d also hate to see your staff, families, or customers get sick.”
This story was originally published July 11, 2020 at 11:54 AM.
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