KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bar owners in Kansas City, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas, say they're worried about new COVID-19 closing rules cutting into their key times for business, such as game days and weekend nights.
Bars and restaurants in KCMO and Jackson County will have to close at 10 p.m. starting Friday.
In Johnson County, bars and restaurants can stay open until midnight.
"Two of my establishments are 3 (a.m.) bars, so really that's shaving 35 hours off my weekly business, which equates to two days," said Andy Lewellen, owner of Lew's Grill and Bar in KCMO. He also operates The Well and Charlie Hooper's.
On top of losing business and laying people off, Lewellen said the restaurant will have to start closing down by 9 p.m. to make sure everyone is out by 10 p.m., which will cut into upcoming Chiefs games.
"It's not just the Raiders game this Sunday. We also have the Broncos game in a few weeks, that's a home game," Lewellen said. "There are going to be fans in the stands as I'm kicking people out of here, so it's frustrating."
Lewellen said his tables are distanced and the bar enforces mask wearing, whereas people gathering at home may not.
Scott Wenta, general manager at Maloney's Sports Bar and Grill in Overland Park, said his staff is glad Johnson County gave them until midnight.
"We get to stay open that extra couple hours, so we get to watch the end of the game," Wenta said. "So we are kind of being selfish here and hoping the Missouri people make it our way to watch the entire game."
Even with the extra two hours compared with KCMO, Wenta said the bar is still losing out on the midnight-to-2 a.m. crowd, which brings in a lot of money.
"I think (the county is) giving us the responsibility to put it on us to say, use social distancing, keep the capacities, wear your mask, do these things and we'll allow you to keep these hours," Wenta said.
Wenta said he anticipates a "great game crowd" on Sunday.
"We'll have to keep social distance at the tables, but I expect a good crowd," Wenta said. "And the weather's supposed to be nice so we will have the patio area for people to watch the game."
However, many people on social media made their thoughts very clear: that everyone should just stay home, avoid crowds and not go to a bar.
Some people said a Chiefs game shouldn't even compare to keeping people safe.
One person online said Jackson and Johnson counties should have mirrored their guidelines because they're so close to each other.
A few people said they will still go to a bar if they want.
