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The Drift In is back in business again

The Drift In is back in business again

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The Drift In is open again and now offers a limited food menu.

The Bradenton Beach bar reopened Friday, Aug. 14 after being ordered to close on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

“They came in and told us we didn’t have a license to serve food, so we had to close. I was not told what the complaint or violation was. Somebody turned us in. I have a pretty good idea who it was, but I’m not going to say,” owner Joe Cuervo said.

Cuervo said he has not seen a copy of the complaint that led to the Drift In in Bradenton Beach and the Drift In in Bradenton being ordered to close on the same night.

“I had to get a restaurant/hotel license, but they were very accommodating,” Cuervo said of his food licensing interactions with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).

“We’ve got our air fryer, our pizza oven and we’re legal now. We’ll be serving pizzas, sandwiches, chicken tenders, French fries and onion rings. Stuff that is very simple,” Cuervo said.

The Drift In is back in business again
The Drift In now has the basic appliances needed to prepare a limited food menu. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cuervo said his new hotel/restaurant license cost him approximately $200 and is a separate license that now works in unison with his long-held 4COP liquor license.

Cuervo said to maintain his status as an establishment that allows smoking, his food revenues cannot exceed 10% of total gross revenues.

Cuervo hopes to reopen the Drift In in Bradenton in a similar fashion soon.

Openings and closings

This is the second time the Bradenton Beach Drift In has reopened during the pandemic.

On March 17, Gov. Ron DeSantis prohibited Florida bars, nightclubs and other establishments that generate more than 50% of their revenues from selling alcohol for on-site consumption. Stand-alone bars were limited to package and takeout services only.

On June 5, DeSantis allowed bars to reopen at 50% capacity. But in response to a surge in new COVID-19 cases among younger people, DBPR Secretary Halsey Beshears issued an emergency order on June 26 that again prohibited stand-alone bars and other non-restaurant establishments from selling alcohol for on-site consumption.

On July 1, Beshears amended his order in a manner that currently allows bars with food licenses to operate at 50% capacity. Bars without food licenses remain limited to takeout and package service only, and night club operations remain prohibited.

Operating procedures

Drift In patrons are required to wear masks or face coverings when entering and exiting the bar, and also when getting up from their seats to use the restrooms.

“I’ve lost a ton of money, so we’re going to do what we need to do to stay open. We’re playing by the rules. We’re doing everything that’s expected and more,” Cuervo said.

Cuervo said the independently licensed hot dog cart operation that was doing business in the parking lot three nights a week before the initial bar closures occurred may soon return to further supplement the food offerings.

Cuervo said he hasn’t heard anything from the state regarding when Florida’s bars will be allowed to reopen at full capacity.

“I haven’t heard one word. They can open up Disney and Universal and all these other places, but they won’t let the little local bar open? It’s ridiculous. Nail salons and hair salons are open and those are one-on-one services that require contact with each other. With us, you’re handed a drink over the counter. In a restaurant, you order a drink, the server tells the bartender, the bartender makes the drink and hands it to the server and the server hands it to you,” Cuervo said.

Due to social distancing requirements, live music will be limited to the outdoor seating area.

Reopening again

After returning to work Friday evening, Drift In manager Doreen Flynn said, “We have a true food license so there won’t be any other issues. We’re all good now and nobody can shut us down. We are continuing to social distance. I took out some barstools and our tables are six feet apart.”

The Drift In is back in business again
Masks or face coverings are required when moving about inside the bar. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Regarding the complaint that shut the two bars down, Flynn said, “The complaints are confidential, and they told us they do not come to an establishment unless they get a complaint because they don’t have the manpower.”

Flynn said Anchor Inn owners Darla and Bobby Tingler previously obtained a food license to avoid a similar fate.

“Darla and Bobby really helped us, and their handyman, Jeff, helped us make the needed modifications for our food preparation area,” Flynn said.

Governor says bar restrictions will remain in place

Governor says bar restrictions will remain in place

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars.

BRADENTON – Gov. Ron DeSantis says he does not anticipate reopening bars without food licenses anytime soon.

During Saturday’s press conference at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, The Sun asked DeSantis about the bar prohibitions recently imposed and later amended by Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears.

“We set out a plan for some of the counties – not all of the counties, not south Florida – that they would be able to operate just like a restaurant with limited capacity seating. The problem was no one was following that. I get that’s not how they want to operate, but we were getting reports of having packed, party-type situations. That was not a part of the guidelines,” DeSantis said.

“I want them to be able to operate, but I also want them to do it consistent with the Step-by-Step plan and we just weren’t able to get that done. So right now, we’re not making any changes. Status quo. As we get in a more stable situation, we’ll take a look at it,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis said he’s not blaming bars for the recent increase in COVID-19 cases.

“It’s definitely not their fault, but at the same time, we tried to do these guidelines. We consulted with physicians, we consulted with different people and we just felt that it’s not like flipping a switch, it’s gonna take some time. But that’s the plan, and if the plan wasn’t being followed there’s not a way we’re going to be able to do it,” DeSantis said before leaving the press conference.

On March 17, DeSantis issued an executive order that prohibited the on-site consumption of alcohol at establishments that generate more than 50% of their revenue from those types of sales. On June 5, DeSantis allowed bars to reopen at 50% capacity.

On June 26, Beshears closed many Florida bars for a second time when he issued DBPR Emergency Order 2020-09.

“During the month of June, the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 increased significantly in the State of Florida, especially among younger individuals. Some of these cases involving younger individuals are suspected to have originated from visits to bars, pubs or nightclubs who have disregarded the restrictions set forth in Phase 2 of the Safe.Smart.Step-by-Step plan for Florida’s recovery,” Beshears’ order says.

On July 1, Beshears amended his order in a manner that allowed some bars and fraternal organizations to reopen.

“Vendors licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, and also licensed to offer food service, may continue to operate as restaurants,” his amended order says.

DeSantis invited to Reopen Bars forum

Fort Lauderdale attorney Jacob Weil will host a virtual Reopen Bars roundtable discussion on Thursday, July 23 at 2 p.m.

According to a press release issued last week, The Weil Law Group is representing hundreds of Florida bar owners who’ve been affected by the bar closure orders.

Darla Tingler, owner of the Anchor Inn in Holmes Beach, and Joe Harris, co-owner of Papa Joe’s Sports Bar and owner of Scalawags Pub in north Sarasota, are among the Manatee County bar owners Weil has spoken with.

Governor says bar restrictions will remain in place
Attorney Jacob Weil has invited Gov. Ron DeSantis to participate in the Reopen Bars virtual roundtable on Thursday, July 23. – The Weil Law Group | Submitted

“Formal invitations have been sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Halsey Beshears. Other officials are also being invited,” the press release notes.

“This forum will be an opportunity for state and local government leaders to discuss with bar owners, operators, professionals and experts the effects of current policies, the concerns of the industry and safe, common-sense solutions to reopen Florida’s bar industry. This is not a hostile event, but rather an opportunity for those in charge to gain perspective from small business owners bearing the costs of the current policy in place,” the press release says.

The July 23 roundtable will be hosted online via Zoom and anyone may join the roundtable discussion by visiting www.reopenflbars.com and selecting the “Round Table” menu option at the top of the page. The roundtable will also be livestreamed via Facebook and YouTube.