NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The owners of The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club want city leaders to be more specific with the way they treat certain establishments during the pandemic.
Andrew Cook and Bryan Rushton put out a statement on social media, highlighting the differences between their small bar, with a current capacity of just 20 people, and the large honky-tonks that can hold hundreds in downtown.
Since The Fox is considered a bar by the health department, it had to shut down with the rest of the city’s bars and some restaurants before July Fourth.
Cook said they’ve been trying everything to make sure they’re following both CDC and Metro Health Department guidelines.
"Most of us, I would say, are doing everything that we can to comply with the CDC guidelines impose strict standards of sanitation and security and safety for everybody. It does feel like the small businesses are paying the price for the negligence of the big ones. It's not one person. It's many people,” said Cook.
As a cocktail bar, Rushton said the business operates with a smaller profit margin than the large downtown bars. They can’t afford to be closed for an extended period of time.
"It's really frustrating when we're doing everything that we can and our customers are having great experiences and they're leaving very satisfied and feeling their interests were protected to then shut down and go on Instagram and see party buses driving around with no masks. People going to bars with no masks. It's like, man if that keeps happening it's going to go on indefinitely,” said Cook.
Mayor John Cooper’s office released the following statement in response.
“We understand the deep frustration that business owners and their employees are feeling during this incredibly challenging time. We are also hearing from many others in the hospitality industry to strengthen public health guidelines to protect the long-term outlook of this industry as well as our vital tourism economy.
As Dr. James Hildreth, President and CEO of Meharry Medical College and member of the Metro Coronavirus Task Force, said at last week’s Metro COVID-19 press briefing, our Roadmap decisions are not intended to be punitive, but are instead guided by both data and public health interest.”
Cool said he hopes the mayor’s office will consider his words when making future decisions about all bars in the city.
