ORLANDO, Fla. — It was two years ago when Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the shutdown of bars and nightclubs across the state.
On St. Patrick’s Day 2020, COVID-19 was just getting started in Florida.
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Local bar owners quickly felt the impact.
It was a dry spell in business that would persist for months.
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Fast forward to St. Paddy’s Day 2022.
Things look very different.
With the omicron surge seemingly in Florida’s rearview mirror, business owners spent the week gearing up for Thursday night’s festivities.
And some told Eyewitness News they’re more than ready for the action.
“St. Patrick’s Day is a big day for us here downtown, so we are excited to get it in the books again,” Wall Street Plaza general manager Patrick Griffin said.
Griffin remembers March 17, 2020 well. No one showed up to celebrate.
“It was a big day ... to lose that day, it really hurt.”
A year ago, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations around downtown were also relatively quiet because of COVID-19 restrictions.
With no limitations currently in place and coronavirus cases down significantly in recent weeks in Orange County, businesses hope to see green in more ways than one Thursday night.
“We will be ready for a humongous crowd,” Griffin said.
And business owners will be hoping for humongous cash flow.
But as we found out, not everyone is ready to party.
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“My roommate and I are planning on staying home and relaxing,” Orlando resident Tyler Rutkowski told WFTV.
He’s not alone.
In response to the anticipated hefty turnout, Youssef Abounouadar of Orlando said, “I’m not too keen about being around too many people. Just being honest.”
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