ORLANDO, Fla. — Bars are struggling to survive as Florida continues to keep them shut down.
Some bars are now adding food service which is allowing them to survive.
But one local bar owner has an idea that he said could work for the entire state.
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His idea involves “party pods,” which allows patrons to reserve a spot, stay in your section
and you can enjoy the bars while being socially distant.
Bar owner Jon Sanfelippo was open after the shutdown for just 14 days.
He and his partners have six bars in Orlando, including The Social and The Beechum.
Sanfelippo was trying to figure out how to allow people to drink inside bars when he read an article about a raceway in the United Kingdom that sectioned off areas for spectators.
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He went to work on an idea on his own and mapped out his plan on paper. Planning pods in the parking lot to keep people separated.
This could be done in just a few days, if the state would reopen the bars.
DPBR is meeting with bars in cities to try and find a way to open, but did not include Orlando.
Sanfelippo said he and others along Orange Avenue would be willing to be leaders in the reopen plan if the state would listen.
Some bars are suing the state to reopen. A hearing on that is scheduled for next week.
Cox Media Group
