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Video: Wisconsin bars and restaurants brace for busy New Year's Eve

Dec 31, 2020 05:42AM ● By Editor

Watch the WDIO-TV Report here

Photo: WDIO-TV

By Emily Ness of WDIO-TV - December 30, 2020

Many are wondering how they will celebrate New Year’s Eve amid the COVID-19 pandemic Because bars and restaurants are closed in Minnesota, a number of people are likely to head to Wisconsin.

WDIO spoke to Mike Mohr, the owner of Gronk’s Bar & Grill about how he and others in the industry plan to prepare.

According to Mohr, business at large has increased in Wisconsin since Minnesota bars and restaurants closed again.

“Our numbers are stronger than they’ve ever been,” Mohr said. 

Mohr said he appreciates the business, but added that it has been hard for he and his staff to keep up.

“There’s a definite increase. It’s actually overpowering,” Mohr said. “The amount of people that are coming in here and the amount of staff that we have and the amount of space that we have… It hasn’t been built and staffed up for what we’re getting now.”

Mohr anticipates that they will be busy on New Year’s Eve, but plans to close at his normal time of 10:00pm to avoid too large of a crowd.

This is in addition to other precautions he and his staff are taking to keep folks safe.

“We have sanitizer everywhere. There’s constant hand washing going on. The staff is masked up. The seats and tables are separated. Menus are wiped after each use,” Mohr said.

The CDC released a number of recommendations for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

They say people should celebrate outdoors if possible. Or, open windows to provide fresh air indoors. They also recommend having guests bring their own food and drinks to avoid sharing. And, to disinfect commonly touched surfaces often.

The CDC also said that masks make a huge difference—especially if people are gathering.

In Wisconsin, masks are still required at bars and restaurants.


To see the original report and read related stories, follow this link to the WDIO-TV website.  https://www.wdio.com/superior-wisconsin-news/wisconsin-bars-and-restaurants-prepare-for-busy-new-yea...

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