Many Merced County bars, gyms open, some still waiting. Here’s what to expect
The quiet of an empty room disappeared Friday at The Cue Spot Billiards in downtown Merced.
It was replaced with the crack of billiard balls, people laughing and all the other familiar sounds that set the scene at an active downtown bar and pool hall.
Eddie Beltran and his son (also named Eddie) are co-owners — and they couldn’t wait for their customers to return when the doors opened Friday afternoon.
“Everybody has been calling me to see when we’re going to open,” said the younger Beltran. “They are excited to come back and we’re excited for them to be back. It’ll be nice to have customers again.”
Bars, wineries and fitness centers are among a dozen industries that were allowed to open across Merced County on Friday.
The Beltrans have made adjustments to their establishment to follow social distancing guidelines.
Of the 23 pool tables on the floor, only 12 will be available as they will open up every other table. The cue sticks, balls and any other equipment will be checked out at the bar and will be sanitized after every use.
Not all bars are ready to reopen
Unlike The Cue Spot, not every Merced County bar opened Friday.
Joey Essig co-owns two of the most well known bars in Merced County — The Partisan and the 17th Street Public House, both of which are located in the heart of downtown Merced on West Main Street.
Essig says he’s not going to rush to reopen either establishment. The 17th Street Public House will offer takeout drinks, of which they will notify their customers through their social network platforms.
Essig says it may be a couple weeks before The Partisan opens for customers. Besides being a bar, The Partisan is well known as an intimate venue to see music and bands.
“We’re trying to figure out what makes the most sense,” Essig said. “Our main concern is keeping our customers and employees safe. What does that look like? We want to make it as natural as possible and as safe as possible.”
Essig said he’s had to lay off 12 people between the two bars, because he had to close the doors to both businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We found out last week that we were going to be able to open again, but the guidelines come out later,” Essig said. “We’re just trying to wrap our heads around it. Internally, you want to rush to get it going, but you still want to do it right. We don’t want to put our employees or customers in a dangerous situation. At the end of the day, if your customers don’t feel safe, they won’t come in.”
Businesses still having to wait to open include: movie theaters, nightclubs, convention centers, libraries, saunas, steam rooms, nail salons, tattoo parlors and festivals.
Mandated safety requirements
Even for those businesses who opened back up Friday, it is far from business as usual. Each business must meet five safety requirements by Merced County before reopening.
The requirements include:
1. Implementing individual control measures and screenings.
2. Implementing disinfecting protocols.
3. Implementing physical distancing guidelines.
4. Training employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including self screening.
5. Performing a detailed risk assessment and implementing a site-specific protection plan.
As with other industries, statewide guidance documents say face masks are “strongly recommended” for all employees who are in close contact with customers. Gloves are also encouraged to be worn by bartenders and bussers. For wineries, new glasses for each pour and the discontinuation of communal dump buckets are also recommended.
Other industries allowed to open in Merced County include: childcare facilities, campgrounds/outdoor recreation, hotels for tourism and individual travel, family entertainment centers, museums and zoos.
Gyms, fitness centers make changes
Similar to bars, the state created guidelines for fitness facilities, which include employees wearing face masks and social distancing guidelines being followed.
Members are being asked to wash their hands before and after workouts and all equipment must be wiped down after use.
In-Shape, which has three locations in Merced and one in Atwater, has asked its members to familiarize themselves with some of the changes that will take place on their app.
Members will have to make reservations up to 48 hours in advance on the app. Members can work out just once per day for a maximum of two hours.
The gym will limit the number of members in the club at one time.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 8:52 AM.
